Minimal Relativity and $^3S_1$-$^3D_1$ Pairing in Symmetric Nuclear Matter

Abstract

We present solutions of the coupled, non-relativistic $^3S_1$-$^3D_1$ gap equations for neutron-proton pairing in symmetric nuclear matter, and estimate relativistic effects by solving the same gap equations modified according to minimal relativity and using single-particle energies from a Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculation. As a main result we find that relativistic effects decrease the value of the gap at the saturation density $k_F=1.36 fm^{-1}$ considerably, in conformity with the lack of evidence for strong neutron-proton pairing in finite nuclei.