Nucleon-nucleon scattering from distillation

TL;DR

This paper presents an analysis of nucleon-nucleon scattering using finite-volume spectroscopy and the distillation method on lattice ensembles, revealing virtual bound states and significant lattice artifacts affecting baryon interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a lattice QCD approach to nucleon-nucleon scattering analysis at an SU(3)-symmetric point using the distillation method, with new insights into bound states and lattice artifacts.

Findings

Detection of nonzero signals for multiple partial waves.

Identification of virtual bound states in deuteron and dineutron S waves.

Observation of significant lattice artifacts influencing baryon-baryon interactions.

Abstract

We report an ongoing analysis of nucleon-nucleon scattering based on finite-volume spectroscopy. The calculation is performed using the distillation method on eight lattice ensembles at the SU(3)-symmetric point with $m_\pi=m_K\approx 420$ MeV generated by CLS, covering a range of lattice spacings and volumes and previously used to study the $H$ dibaryon. We obtain nonzero signals for $S$, $P$, $D$, and $F$ waves as well as the mixing between spin-1 $S$ and $D$ waves. For $S$ waves, lattice artifacts are significant and tend to strengthen baryon-baryon interactions. In the deuteron and dineutron $S$ waves, we find virtual bound states.