Higher partial wave contribution to nuclear matter binding energy: Phase shift approximation versus one pion-plus σ-exchange potential

The contribution to nuclear matter binding energy of states with J ⩾ 3 is estimated from the “OPEP + σ” model and is compared with the previously used OPEP model and Phase shift approximation. Results are respectively 0.99, 2.22 and 0.77 MeV per particle at kF = 1.36 fm−1, a good improvement over the simple OPEP treatment.