Rigorous spectral representation of relativistic random phase approximation for finite nuclei
By using the rigorous spectral representation of relativistic random phase approximation, the low-lying excitation of finite nuclei and its longitudinal response function for quasielastic electron scattering are calculated in the σ-ω model of quantum hadrodynamics. It is shown that the reproduction of the correct order of the 1− and 3− excitation states of 16O is due to the contribution of the exchange vertex. There is no significant influence of the retardation effect on the low-lying excitation states. In contrast, the retardation effect plays an important role in the electron scattering process of nuclei. The theoretical longitudinal responses of 12C and 40Ca, including the contributions of the exchange vertex and the retardation effect, are suppressed and reproduce the experimental data better than the results excluding them.