Variational calculations using low-momentum potentials with smooth cutoffs

Recent variational calculations of the deuteron and the triton illustrate that simple wave function ansätze become more effective after evolving the nucleon-nucleon potential to lower momentum (“Vlowk”). However, wave function artifacts from the use of sharp cutoffs in relative momentum decrease effectiveness for small cutoffs (<2fm−1) and slow down convergence in harmonic oscillator bases. These sharp cutoff artifacts are eliminated when Vlowk is generated using a sufficiently smooth cutoff regulator.