Nucleon-deuteron scattering with Δ-isobar excitation: Perturbation theory

A perturbative approach for the description of elastic and inelastic nucleon-deuteron scattering is developed. Its validity is discussed. The aim of the perturbative approach is the isolation of details of different reaction mechanisms. The dynamics is based on a two-baryon potential allowing for the excitation of a nucleon to a Δ isobar. The coupled-channel potential yields an effective three-nucleon force in three-nucleon scattering. The purely nucleonic reference potential is the charge-dependent CD-Bonn potential