Electromagnetic Corrections to the One-Pion-Exchange Potential

Abstract

Leading-order electromagnetic loop corrections to the one-pion-exchange potential are computed within the framework of chiral perturbation theory. These corrections generate an effective nucleon-nucleon potential, $V_{\pi \gamma }$, which supplements the sum of OPEP and the nucleon-nucleon Coulomb potential. This potential is charge dependent and its construction is demonstrated to be gauge invariant. The potential $V_{\pi \gamma }$ has been included in the Nijmegen partial-wave analysis of np data. A particular renormalization scheme is chosen that leads to a negligible change in the charged-piNN coupling constant and in the np 1S0 scattering length and effective range.

10 pages, latex, 1 figure -- Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. -- epsfig.sty required