Separable representation of the nuclear proton-proton interaction

We propose a separable representation of the nuclear part of the proton-proton interaction in angular-momentum states $l=0, 1, \mathrm{and} 2$. This representation yields an accurate fit to all experimental data currently accepted for elastic proton-proton scattering. The form factors of the separable potentials are represented by simple functions in momentum space (and also in configuration space). This makes it possible to treat the Coulomb distortion of the nuclear interaction exactly and to derive the corresponding proton-proton transition matrix in closed analytic form. Our model thus provides an adequate and convenient starting point for rigorous calculations on few-body systems with charges.