The binding energy of the triton has been calculated variationally employing the Hylleraas expansion for the trial wave functions, thus permitting a systematic improvement in the binding energy. The procedure used was tested by applying it to the binding energy problem of the deuteron with tensor forces. The present theory, assuming a rectangular-well shape with a range of 2.8 × ${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ cm for all the internucleon potentials, yields a ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ binding energy 40 percent to 50 percent of the experimental value. Various suggestions for resolving this dilemma are discussed.

• Received 6 January 1949

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.75.1384