Green's function Monte Carlo study of light nuclei.

Abstract

The first Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of A=3 and 4 nuclei with spin-dependent interactions are reported. Green's function Monte Carlo methods for calculating the properties of coupled channel quantum systems are described in detail, including both exact and approximate schemes. Results are presented for A=3 and 4 nuclei with a V6 interaction. For the triton, the Green's function Monte Carlo calculations are compared with Faddeev and variational methods. Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of the alpha particle provide the first test of variational methods for systems with spin-dependent interactions. For this interaction, variational methods underestimate the binding energy of the alpha particle by \ensuremath{\approxeq}2 MeV. Other ground state properties of light nuclei have also been determined. Implications of these results for more realistic interactions are discussed, along with the possibility of future extensions of Green's function Monte Carlo methods to treat momentum dependent and three nucleon interactions.