Variational calculations of realistic models of nuclear matter

We report variational calculations of nuclear matter with a semi-realistic Reid v₁₂ model, and a realistic v₁₄ model of the two-nucleon interaction operator. The v₁₄ model fits the available nucleon-nucleon scattering data up to 425 MeV lab energy, and has relatively weak L² and $\text{(}\text{L}\text{·}\text{S}\text{)}{}^2$ interactions in addition to the standard central, tensor and ($\text{L}\text{·}\text{S}$). The L² and $\text{(}\text{L}\text{·}\text{S}\text{)}{}^2$ interactions are treated semiperturbatively; their contribution reduces the overbinding of nuclear matter. However, the equilibrium k_F = 1.7 fm^?1 and E₀ = ?17.5 MeV obtained with the v₁₄ model are both higher than their empirical values k_F = 1.33 fm^? and E₀ = ?16 MeV. We assume that the difference between the calculated and empirical E(ρ) is entirely due to three-nucleon interactions (TNI). The TNI contributions are phenomenologically added to the nuclear matter energy, and their parameters are adjusted to obtain the correct equilibrium energy, density and compressibility. The required TNI contributions appear to be of reasonable magnitude.