Abstract
Using the Thomas-Fermi model and the leptodermous expansion in powers of A1/3, we derive a formula for nuclear level density parameter "a" at finite temperature. The level density parameter was found to depend on the nuclear potential only through the effective mass m*/m. The experimental data of "a" at zero temperature favours a value of m*/m almost-equal-to 1. The level density parameter was found to decrease with increasing temperature in a qualitative agreement with experiment.