The LOCV method versus the fermion (hypernetted) chain approximations using the Bethe homework problem

The neutron matter equation of states of the so-called Bethe homework problem (NMESB) is obtained using the (extended) lowest order constrained variational ((E) LOCV), the lowest order factorized Iwamoto–Yamada (LOF) and the Fermi (hypernetted) chain (FC (FHNC)) formalisms. The FC and the FHNC approximations are performed, using the LOCV or the ELOCV correlation function. It is shown that, if the normalization constraint is satisfied, then the NMESB results by using the LOCV, the ELOCV, the FC and the FHNC formalisms, will become close together and agree well with the corresponding FHNC calculations performed by Zabolitzky (Z) with the parameterized Krotscheck and Takahashi (KT) correlation function. It is also demonstrated that the LOF and the FC calculations, evaluated by employing a parameterized correlation function, are far from the above results, particularly at high densities. Finally, in order to test the convergence of LOF approximation, the two- and the three-body normalization factors are calculated and it is shown that in the LOF approximation, the truncation of cluster expansion after the first few leading terms is not reliable (which is well known as the Emery difficulty).