Neutron-Electron Interaction

Abstract

The effective neutron-electron interaction is calculated with the cut-off pseudoscalar meson theory and neglect of nucleon recoil. Values of -7.1 and -8.6 kev are obtained for the meson contribution with two different shapes for the cut-off function. The nucleon contribution is ambiguous in the cut-off theory since the shape of the core charge is undetermined. It is shown that if the no recoil theory with cutoff is interpreted to be the limit, as the nucleon mass becomes infinite, of a relativistic theory with a cutoff, then the contribution of the anomalous magnetic moment (or Foldy) term is not contained in our calculation. Since the Foldy term alone accounts for the major part of the experimental interaction, the sum of pion and nucleon charge contributions in this theory, if correct, should be at most of the order of a few hundred ev, or an order of magnitude less than the pion part. Finally, a brief calculation is made to illustrate the fact that, if spread out in a plausible way, the nucleon core charge could effect the needed cancellation.