Basis for breakup states of three identical particles

A new basis for expanding three-body momentum-space states for three identical particles is studied. The basis states are simultaneously eigenstates of the total angular momentum and the total anti symmetrization operator. The total kinetic energy and two Dalitz-Fabri variables are chosen as the remaining three continuous variables. Zernike polynomials are used as a basis set for a generalized Fourier expansion in the Dalitz-Fabri variables. Born approximations to the nucleon-deuteron breakup amplitude zero total orbital angular momentum) are calculated for Malflict-Tjon I-III potentials and displayed in a Dalitz plot that shows the global structures of the reaction probabilities. Numerical results are presented, which indicate favorable convergence properties of the generalized Fourier expansion. These results suggest that the new basis set may be attractive in more realistic calculations.