How Realistic Is the Tabakin Nucleon-Nucleon Potential?

It is shown that the Tabakin potential apparently predicts a deuteron quadrupole moment which is smaller than that previously assumed by a factor of 3. This discrepancy arises from the original use of an inaccurate formula relating the quadrupole moment of the deuteron to the threshold slope of the ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}S_1^{}{}_{}{}^{}-{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}D_1^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ coupling parameter ${\epsilon }_1$. The new value indicates a corresponding Tabakin tensor force which is considerably weaker than is required. Also, the small $D$-wave spin-orbit splitting given by the Tabakin potential at 142 MeV is found to be different from the small experimental value.