ISF 2.P061

Intuitive illustration of the diagonal tensor interaction energy.
The tensor force is nonzero only for the spin-triplet state (S = 1)
and is attractive if the relative motion wave function (yellow)
is aligned in the same direction as the spin (black). This is the
situation shown on the left, where a nucleon with angular momentum
j< = l - ½ interacts with another nucleon in the state
j'> = l' + ½. On the right side, where the nucleon with angular
momentum j> = l + ½ interacts with another nucleon in
the state with j'> = l' + ½, the relative motion wave function is
aligned along an axis orthogonal to the spin direction and the
tensor interaction is repulsive. The right side also holds for the
orbits j< = l - ½ and j'< = l' - ½. Adapted from [Ots05].
References:
[Ots05] T. Otsuka et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 232502 (2005)