Three-body force effect on the properties of nuclear matter under the gap and continuous choices within the BHF approach

We have calculated and compared the three-body force effects on the properties of nuclear matter under the gap and continuous choices for the self-consistent auxiliary potential within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approach by adopting the Argonne $V18$ and the Bonn B two-body potentials plus a microscopic three-body force (TBF). The TBF provides a strong repulsive effect on the equation of state of nuclear matter at high densities for both the gap and continuous choices. The saturation point turns out to be much closer to the empirical value when the continuous choice is adopted. In addition, the dependence of the calculated symmetry energy upon the choice of the self-consistent auxiliary potential is discussed.