Neutron-deuteron scattering cross sections with chiral NN interactions using wave-packet continuum discretization

Journal article, 2022

In this work we present a framework that allows one to solve the Faddeev equations for three-nucleon scattering using the wave-packet continuum-discretization method. We perform systematic benchmarks using results in the literature and study in detail the convergence of this method with respect to the number of wave packets. We compute several different elastic neutron-deuteron scattering cross-section observables for a variety of energies using chiral nucleon-nucleon interactions. For the optimized next-to-next-to-leading order interaction N2LOopt we find good agreement with data for nucleon scattering-energies ELab≤70 MeV and a slightly larger maximum of the neutron analyzing power Ay(n) at ELab=10 and 21 MeV compared with other interactions. This work represents a first step towards a systematic inclusion of three-nucleon scattering observables in the construction of next-generation nuclear interactions.