The Yukawa Theory of Nuclear Forces in the Light of Present Quantum Theory of Wave Fields

Abstract

The Yukawa theory of nuclear forces¹⁾ has led to many successes and, owing to the present state of quantum theory, to some difficulties. Among the difficulties one remembers first the existence of the π-meson and the possibility of describing the spin dependency and the saturation of nuclear forces by means of simple vector fields or pseudo-scalar fields. Among the difficulties we mention the divergence of the interaction at small distances of the nucleons and the impossibility of getting the correct mass defect for heavy nuclei when one takes the constants of the Yukawa field from the mass defect of light nuclei.²⁾ Furthermore, the existence of closed neutron and proton shells in the nucleus³⁾ and the behaviour of the cross section for elastic collisions of nucleons at very high energies indicate, that the Yukawa potential is not correct at small distances of the nucleons.