Single particle spectrum and binding energy of nuclear matter

In non-relativistic Brueckner calculations of nuclear matter, the self-consistent single particle potential is strongly momentum dependent. To simplify the calculations, a parabolic approximation is often used in the literature. The variation in the binding energy value introduced by the parabolic approximation is quantitatively analyzed in detail. It is found that the approximation can introduce an uncertainty at best of 1–2 MeV already around the saturation density, and therefore it should be avoided in Brueckner calculations.