Low-Energy Parameters of Neutron–Neutron Interaction: Analysis of Data Obtained in nd and dd Breakup Reactions

Abstract

Data obtained in recent years for the neutron–neutron scattering length in nd and dd breakup reactions are analyzed. Serious discrepancies between experimental data from different studies may be explained by the effect of three-nucleon forces depending on the velocity of separation of a neutron–neutron pair and a charged fragment. It is shown that the data under analysis can be approximated by a smooth curve representing the dependence of the scattering length on the parameter R, which determines the fragment-separation distance after a fixed time. This dependence makes it possible to obtain the scatteringlength value for R→∞—that is, in the absence of the effect of three-nucleon forces.