Two-nucleon scattering in a modified Weinberg approach with a symmetry-preserving regularization

Abstract: We consider the nucleon-nucleon scattering problem by applying time-ordered perturbation theory to the Lorentz invariant formulation of baryon chiral perturbation theory. Using a symmetry preserving higher derivative form of the effective Lagrangian, we exploit the freedom of the choice of the renormalization condition and obtain an integral equation for the scattering amplitude with an improved ultraviolet behavior. The resulting formulation is used to quantify finite regulator artifacts in two-nucleon phase shifts as well as in the chiral extrapolations of the S-wave scattering lengths and the deuteron binding energy. This approach can be straightforwardly extended to analyze few-nucleon systems and processes involving external electroweak sources.