Derivation of collective potential and mass from the generator coordinate method

The Hill-Wheeler equation of the generator coordinate method is approximated by a local collective Schrödinger equation. General expressions for the potential and the mass parameter are obtained by a symmetrized moment expansion. The validity of the approximation is tested for several examples where the exact solution is known. These include the Gaussian overlap with harmonic and anharmonic interaction, the Lipkin model, and monopole resonances of spherical light nuclei. In all cases, surprisingly close agreement with the exact solution is found. Other possible applications of the formalism are indicated.