A practical and flexible variational method is employed to calculate the trinucleon ground state energy, wave function, and charge form factor, using the $s$-wave Malfliet-Tjon potentials V and VI. The results are compared with existing accurate solutions of the same potentials. The charge form factor is found to be rather insensitive to the addition of different three-body forces.

• Received 27 February 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.30.715