Charge asymmetry and neutron-neutron scattering

Abstract The uncertainty in the subtraction of electromagnetic effects from S-wave proton-proton scattering potentials is studied in two models using unitarily transformed potentials. Restrictions on these models caused by theoretical, off-shell and deuteron constraints are imposed. The probable uncertainty of physical interest is found to be small. It is typically only a few parts per thousand of the one-pion exchange potential. It has relatively little effect on Coulomb displacement energies. Phenomenological charge-symmetry-breaking potentials are constructed which both fit the experimental neutron-neutron (nn) scattering length (−16.4 fm). and give roughly the needed Coulomb displacement energies. These phenomenological potentials are found to contain a short-range repulsion and a strong long-range attraction for a neutron pair. The need for experimental information on the shape and state dependence of the nn force is emphasized. These can probably be obtained from precise nn scattering measurements.