A simplified approach to three-body correlations in nuclear matter through a non-zero particle spectrum

Self-consistent nuclear-matter calculations are presented which take into account Dahlblom's results for the contribution to the binding energy due to three-body correlations. We propose a justified parametrization of the single-particle potential for particle states, the energy contribution of which cancels approximately the energy from certain three-body correlations. Indications are given of how to fix this particle-state potential for a given two-body interaction. Two nucleon-nucleon potentials are used: the Reid soft-core potential and a fully momentum-dependent one-boson-exchange potential similar to the form proposed by Ingber and Potenza. The mechanism of the increase in the total wound due to three-body correlations is investigated and reasons are given why this does not prevent the saturation densities from moving to higher values. Due to three-body correlations and with self-consistency on the hole spectrum, the increase in nuclear-matter binding energy is 0.60 MeV/A for the Reid soft-core interaction and 0.68 Mev/A for the OBEP. The saturation momentum is shifted from 1.42 fm−1 to 1.44 fm−1 for the Reid potential and from 1.58 fm−1 to 1.62 fm−1 for the OBEP.