FRANCHFRI: the Finite-RANge Constrained Hartree-Fock Rapid Iterator

The Hartree-Fock code FRANCHFRI, which uses a finite-range nucleon-nucleon interaction, has been written and benchmarked. This code represents a new LLNL capability for realistic calculations in both nuclear-structure and nuclear-reaction physics. The use of a finite-range interaction represents a considerable improvement over other Hartree-Fock codes currently available in the public domain, which rely on zero-range forces. The finite-range force does not simply lead to a more realistic treatment of the nuclear problem, it avoids serious mathematical pathologies inherent to zero-range interactions. This brief and non-technical report introduces the code, its design philosophy, various benchmarks used to test its accuracy, and places it within its proper physics context. The current limitations and planned extensions of the code are also discussed