Three Nucleon Scattering in a 3D Approach at the First Order

Abstract

The “three dimensional” (3D) approach to few-nucleon calculations, instead of working with partial-wave states, uses the momentum degrees of freedom of the nucleons directly. As a result, 3D calculations are equivalent to incorporating all partial waves into the calculation. This equivalence is limited by the available computational resources, nonetheless, the new approach provides an opportunity to construct numerical descriptions of physical systems that were previously unavailable with more traditional methods. We present selected observables for the neutron–deuteron inelastic scattering process calculated using the 3D approach and the traditional partial wave approach. This comparison was carried out using the first order terms of the series expansion of the Faddeev equations and is a strong motivator for a development of a complete 3D calculation that utilizes all orders.