Mean distribution of single-particle levels in thin-skinned potential wells and the macroscopic level density parameters of nuclei

A general leptodermous expansion for the density of single-particle levels in thin-skinned potential wells is derived and is used to study the finite size corrections to the macroscopic level density parameters of nuclei. With droplet model values for the potential parameters, the calculated level density parameters for nuclei along the #betta#-stability line show systematic deviations from the experimental estimates. Possible reasons for these deviations are also discussed. (orig.)