The binding energies of atomic nuclei III. Nuclear forces and the ground state of oxygen 16

Abstract

The r. m. s. radius and the binding energy of oxygen 16 are calculated for several different internueleon potentials. These potentials all fit the low-energy data for two nucleons, they have hard cores of differing radii, and they include the Gammel-Thaler potential (core radius 0·4 fermi). The calculated r. m. s. radii range from 1·5 f for a potential with core radius 0·2 f to 2·0 f for a core radius 0·6 f. The value obtained from electron scattering experiments is 2·65 f. The calculated binding energies range from 256 MeV for a core radius 0·2 f to 118 MeV for core 0·5 f. The experimental value of binding energy is 127·3 MeV. The 25% discrepancy in the calculated r. m. s. radius may be due to the limitations of harmonic oscillator wave functions used in the unperturbed system.