N-d scattering above the deuteron breakup threshold

Abstract

The complex Kohn variational principle and the (correlated) Hyperspherical Harmonics technique are applied to study the N--d scattering above the deuteron breakup threshold. The configuration with three outgoing nucleons is explicitly taken into account by solving a set of differential equations with outgoing boundary conditions. A convenient procedure is used to obtain the correct boundary conditions at values of the hyperradius $\approx 100$ fm. The inclusion of the Coulomb potential is straightforward and does not give additional difficulties. Numerical results have been obtained for a simple s-wave central potential. They are in nice agreement with the benchmarks produced by different groups using the Faddeev technique. Comparisons are also done with experimental elastic N--d cross section at several energies.