Two Nucleons on a Lattice

TL;DR

This paper argues that lattice QCD simulations for two-nucleon systems can yield accurate nuclear physics results even on smaller lattices, challenging the common assumption that large lattices are necessary due to large scattering lengths.

Contribution

It demonstrates that small lattice simulations can provide rigorous insights into two-nucleon interactions, simplifying computational requirements.

Findings

Small lattice simulations can produce rigorous two-nucleon results.

Large lattices are not strictly necessary for accurate nuclear physics data.

The approach challenges conventional assumptions about lattice size requirements.

Abstract

The two-nucleon sector is near an infrared fixed point of QCD and as a result the S-wave scattering lengths are unnaturally large compared to the effective ranges and shape parameters. It is usually assumed that a lattice QCD simulation of the two-nucleon sector will require a lattice that is much larger than the scattering lengths in order to extract quantitative information. In this paper we point out that this does not have to be the case: lattice QCD simulations on much smaller lattices will produce rigorous results for nuclear physics.