Triton model calculation test of the Bonn W-matrix rank-one approximation

The rank-one separable part of the {ital W}-matrix representation of the {ital t} matrix for the Malfliet-Tjon I-III nucleon-nucleon potential has been shown to lead to results for the triton binding energy and low-energy ({ital E}{sub lab}{le}50 MeV) nucleon-deuteron scattering that agree well with results for that potential obtained by solving the full local-potential equations. We explore why this prescription appears to work so well for the Malfliet-Tjon I-III model and test it further using the Reid-soft-core spin-singlet interaction, which possesses a very strong short-range repulsion (a stiff core). For this model, a calculation using the rank-one separable part of the {ital W}-matrix representation of the two-body {ital t} matrix overbinds the triton by 25%.