FOLDED-DIAGRAM NUCLEON-NUCLEON POTENTIAL FOR APPLICATION TO THE MANY-BODY PROBLEM

We calculate an energy-independent nucleon-nucleon potential using the folded-diagram expansion following closely the philosophy for selecting one- and two-meson-exchange terms that led to the successful Bonn energy-dependent interaction. Coupling parameters are very similar in the two cases, as is the reproduction of the scattering phase shifts and deuteron properties, including the electromagnetic form factors. We also present a simpler one-meson-exchange folded-diagram potential. We study the properties of the many-body system using the two energy-independent interactions. The triton is underbound by about 1 MeV, and nuclear matter underbinds at a saturation density considerably above the empirical density, suggesting the need for intrinsic three-body forces. These are considerably different from the properties attributed to the energy-dependent Bonn interactions, reflecting our earlier observation that numerous higher-order corrections need to be considered in the energy-dependent scheme to obtain comparable many-body results.