Three-nucleon forces and the three-nucleon systems

Abstract

The basic principles and philosophy which have guided the area of few-nucleon physics are motivated and discussed. Recent advances have made it possible to solve accurately the Schrodinger (or Faddeev) equation for many of the configurations of the few-nucleon systems, A brief review is given of some of the results of these calculations, which also Indicate that one-pion exchange plays roughly the same role in binding these systems that it plays in electromagnetic meson-exchange currents. Finally, a qualitative discussion of chiral perturbation theory is presented, which highlights the role that chiral symmetry plays in the nuclear force. Three-body forces from different areas of physics are discussed, as well as the significance of three-nucleon forces in few-nucleon systems.