Essential mechanisms in the triton binding

Abstract

The recent successful prediction of the triton binding energy, ${E}_{\mathrm{t}}$, with the static Bonn potential is examined. Modified versions of the potential are introduced to isolate separately the effects of the deuteron D-state admixture and the $^{1}\mathrm{S}_{0}$ scattering length on ${E}_{\mathrm{t}}$. Within this model study we find a monotonic relation between ${E}_{\mathrm{t}}$ and the $^{1}\mathrm{S}_{0}$ scattering length and a strict linear dependence of ${E}_{\mathrm{t}}$ on the D-state admixture, in accordance with general well-known trends and earlier separable-potential model studies. The mechanism through which the weaker tensor force (lower D-state admixture) leads to a stronger binding of the triton is investigated by the introduction and study of effective energy-dependent central potentials.