Renormalization of one-pion exchange and power counting

Abstract

The renormalization of the chiral nuclear interactions is studied. In leading order, the cutoff dependence is related to the singular tensor interaction of the one-pion exchange potential. In S waves and in higher partial waves where the tensor force is repulsive this cutoff dependence can be absorbed by counterterms expected at that order. In the other partial waves additional contact interactions are necessary. The implications of this finding for the effective field theory program in nuclear physics are discussed.