0 Mean – Field Models and Superheavy Elements

We discuss the performance of two widely used nuclear mean-field models, the relativistic mean–field theory (RMF) and the non-relativistic Skyrme–Hartree–Fock approach (SHF), with particular emphasis on the description of superheavy elements (SHE). We provide a short introduction to the SHF and RMF, the relations between these two approaches and the relations to other nuclear structure models, briefly review the basic properties with respect to normal nuclear observables, and finally present and discuss recent results on the binding properties of SHE computed with a broad selection of SHF and RMF parametrisations.