The structure of the alpha particle is examined through microscopic studies with a variety of interaction models. Variational calculations are presented for the Argonne, Bonn r space, Reid V8, and Nijmegen nucleon-nucleon interaction models, as well as results obtained with the Urbana model 7 three-nucleon interaction. Green’s function Monte Carlo results are reported for the Reid V8 interaction and compared with variational results to illustrate the strengths and shortcomings of the variational method. In addition to ground-state energies, one- and two-body distribution functions are shown for the various models, as well as D-state probabilities. Information about the distribution can, in principle, be determined from electron scattering, while the D-state probability may be accessible through d+d→α+γ experiments.

• Received 8 June 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.38.1879