Nonlocal nature of the nuclear force and its impact on nuclear structure

We calculate the triton binding energy with a nonlocal NN potential that fits the world NN data below 350 MeV with the almost perfect χ2/datum of 1.03. The nonlocality is derived from relativistic meson field theory. The result obtained in a 34-channel, charge-dependent Faddeev calculation is 8.00 MeV, which is 0.4 MeV above the predictions by local NN potentials. The increase in binding energy can be clearly attributed to the off-shell behavior of the nonlocal potential. Our result cuts in half the discrepancy between theory and experiment established from local NN potentials. Implications for other areas of miscroscopic nuclear structure, in which underbinding is a traditional problem, are discussed. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society