Modern nuclear force predictions for the neutron-deuteron scattering lengths

H. Witala, A. Nogga, H. Kamada, W. Glockle, J. Golak, R. Skibinski

Published 2003-05-12Version 1

The nd doublet and quartet scattering lengths have been calculated based on the modern NN and 3N interactions. We also studied the effect of the electromagnetic interactions in the form introduced in AV18. Switching them off for the various nuclear force models leads to shifts of up to +0.04 fm for doublet scattering length, which is significant for present day standards. The electromagnetic effects have also a noticeable effect on quartet scattering length, which otherwise is extremely stable under the exchange of the nuclear forces. For the current nuclear force models there is a strong scatter of the 3H binding energy and the doublet scattering length values around an averaged straight line (Phillips line). This allows to use doublet scattering length and the 3H binding energy as independent low energy observables.