Covariant Density Functional Theory and Applications to Finite Nuclei

Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory is described in terms of a covariant density functional for a description of nuclear properties. Using only a very limited number of phenomenological parameters it provides a universal self-consistent method, which is based on the mean field idea. Correlations, vacuum polarization, exchange terms etc. are included in a phenomenological way. The time-dependent version allows the investigation of excited states such as rotational motion and collective vibrations. We give an overview over the basic concepts of density functional theory in nuclei with its various extensions and discuss recent applications for nuclei in and far from the valley of stability.