Relativistic three-body bound states in scalar QFT: Variational basis-state approach

Abstract

We use the Hamiltonian formalism of quantum field theory and the variational basis-state method to derive relativistic three-body wave equations for scalar particles interacting via a massive or massless mediating scalar field (the scalar Yukawa model). A variational trial state comprised of three and five Fock-space states is used to derive coupled wave equations for a relativistic three- (and five-) body system. Approximate variational three-body ground-state solutions of the relativistic equations are obtained for various strengths of coupling, for both massive and massless mediating fields. The results show that the inclusion of virtual pairs has a large effect on the three-body binding energy at strong coupling.