This paper provides a further test of employing the W-matrix representation of the two-body T matrix in three-nucleon calculations. Calculating differential neutron-deuteron breakup cross sections with the Malfliet-Tjon potentials I and III, we find that the single-term separable approximation for the two-body T matrix which follows from the W-matrix approach, when used as input in the three-nucleon Alt-Grassberger-Sandhas equations, leads to results which agree extremely well with benchmark results provided by Wital/a, Glöckle, and Cornelius. The present investigations, thus, corroborate and extend the findings obtained previously for elastic neutron-deuteron scattering. Our theoretical results are also compared with recent experimental data obtained at Erlangen, and it is found that the Malfliet-Tjon potential supports a very good reproduction of the overall features of these data. We conclude that the W-matrix approach provides a remarkably simple and efficient tool for high-quality three-nucleon calculations.

• Received 16 May 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.38.1112