  Ground-state properties of exotic even-even nuclei with extreme
neutron-to-proton ratios are described in the framework of the self-consistent
mean-field theory with pairing formulated in coordinate space. This theory
properly accounts for the influence of the particle continuum, which is
particularly important for weakly bound systems. The pairing properties of
nuclei far from stability are studied with several interactions emphasizing
different aspects, such as the range and density dependence of the effective
interaction. Measurable consequences of spatially extended pairing fields are
presented, and the sensitivity of the theoretical predictions to model details
is discussed.
