Meson exchanges in the harmonic-oscillator quark model

Meson exchanges are introduced into the harmonic oscillator quark model along with a lower quark wave function. The mechanism is based on quark correlations that derive from quark exchange scattering via gluon exchange at short distances. This method allows avoiding spurious van der Waals forces at long range. Meson-baryon coupling constants and vertex form factors are calculated. They are found to be in agreement with those obtained from other quark models, phenomenological potentials, and the broken SU(3) flavor symmetry. The resulting $S$-wave NN phase shifts are compared with those from quark-molecular models.