An attempt to explain nuclear properties with the help of a classical nuclear potential whose quanta are $\pi$ mesons leads to involved nonlinear interactions. We therefore used a potential whose quanta are neutral scalar mesons. Saturation properties, empirical binding energies, and observed nuclear densities are obtained if the potential depends on the velocity of the nucleons. This velocity dependence accounts for a number of additional nuclear properties.

• Received 26 January 1955

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.98.783