Role of Levinson’s theorem in neutron-deuteron quartetS-wave scattering

The real part of the phase shift for elastic neutron-deuteron scattering in the quartet {ital S} wave channel, as calculated with the exact three-body theory, assumes at threshold the value {pi} if normalized to zero at infinity; that is, it does not comply with the expectations raised by a naive application of Levinson's theorem since no bound state exists in this channel. A description of this situation on an equivalent two-body level via a potential, constructed by means of the Marchenko inverse scattering theory, necessitates the introduction of a fictitious bound state. This predominantly attractive, equivalent local potential can be related via supersymmetry to a strictly phase equiva…