Starting from the matrix elements of the nucleon-nucleon interaction in momentum space we present a method to derive an operator representation with a minimal set of operators that is required to provide an optimal description of the partial waves with low angular momentum. As a first application we use this method to obtain an operator representation for the Argonne potential transformed by means of the unitary correlation operator method and discuss the necessity of including momentum-dependent operators. The resulting operator representation leads to the same results as the original momentum space matrix elements when applied to the two-nucleon system and various light nuclei. For applications in fermionic and antisymmetrized molecular dynamics, where an operator representation of a soft but realistic effective interaction is indispensable, a simplified version using a reduced set of operators is given.

• Received 29 November 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.89.034002