Nuclear saturation in lowest-order Brueckner theory with two- and three-nucleon forces in view of chiral effective field theory

Abstract

The nuclear saturation mechanism is discussed in terms of two-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions in chiral effective field theory (Ch-EFT), using the framework of lowest-order Brueckner theory. After the Coester band, which is observed in calculating saturation points with various nucleon-nucleon (NN) forces, is revisited using modern NN potentials and their low-momentum equivalent interactions, detailed account of the saturation curve of the Ch-EFT interaction is presented. The three-nucleon force (3NF) is treated by reducing it to an effective two-body interaction by folding the third nucleon degrees of freedom. Uncertainties due to the choice of the 3NF low-energy constants $c_D$ and $c_E$ are discussed. The reduction of the cutoff-energy dependence of the NN potential is explained by demonstrating the effect of the 3NF in the $^1$S$_0$ and $^3$S$_1$ states.