Off-energy-shell variations of two-nucleon transition matrix and three-nucleon problem

For a schematic three-nucleon problem, we derive approximate analytic expressions for the functional derivatives of measurable three-particle quantities with respect to off-shell variations of the triplet-s, two-nucleon transition matrix. Those quantities include neutron-deuteron scattering lengths, trinucleon binding energies, and the ³He charge form-factor minimum; correlations between off-shell changes in the latter two are discussed. We indicate how results of this kind may be used to decide whether or not a given set of discrepancies between calculated and experimental three-nucleon observables can be reconciled in terms of off-shell variations of a nonretarded hermitean two-nucleon interaction. The treatment is not restricted to special classes of phase-shift equivalent potentials or phase-shift preserving transformations but instead makes use of a systematic parameterization of off-shell variations in terms of symmetric rational approximants of increasing order.