STELLAR ELECTRON-CAPTURE RATES: A COVARIANT DENSITY FUNCTIONAL CALCULATION

Gamow-Teller transitions and stellar electron-capture rates in hot nuclei are computed using the self-consistent finite-temperature relativistic random-phase approximation (FTRRPA). The predicted electron-capture rates in stellar environment for ^54,56Fe are consistent with those obtained in the shellmodel approach. The FTRRPA provides an efficient and accurate theoretical framework for large-scale calculations of stellar electron-capture rates.