Nonlocality in the nucleon-nucleon interaction and three-nucleon bound states -: art. no. 064005

We address the problem of a possible nonlocality in the nucleon-nucleon interaction and its consequences for the description of the three-nucleon bound states H-3 and He-3. A nucleon-nucleon potential model is constructed, which respects the local behavior of traditional nucleon-nucleon interactions at longer ranges but exhibits a nonlocality at shorter distances. It provides for an accurate fit of all existing nucleon-nucleon data and takes into account breaking of charge independence and charge symmetry. With this interaction model the H-3 and He-3 binding energies can be described simultaneously in perfect agreement with experimental data. No three-nucleon force is needed as in the case of purely local nucleon-nucleon potentials.