Displacement energies with the Skyrme Hartree–Fock method

The binding energy differences of mirror nuclei are calculated with the Skyrme Hartree–Fock method and compared to experiment. The Nolen–Schiffer anomaly can be accounted for either by dropping the Coulomb exchange term or by introducing a charge-symmetry breaking interaction. The displacement energy systematics can be quantitatively reproduced with either of these modifications. The results are important for an accurate description of the proton and neutron drip lines. The possible origins of these modifications in terms of nuclear correlations and nucleon-nucleon charge-symmetry breaking interactions are discussed.