Separable approximation to the NN Paris potential in the framework of the Bethe-Salpeter equation

The Bethe-Salpeter equation is solved with a separable kernel for the most important nucleon-nucleon partial wave states. We employ the Ernst-Shakin-Thaler method in the framework of minimal relativity (Blankenbecler-Sugar equation) to generate a separable representation of the meson-theoretical Paris potential. These separable interactions, which closely approximate the on-shell and half-off-shell behavior of the Paris potential, are then cast into a covariant form for application in the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The role of relativistic effects is discussed with respect to on-shell and off-shell properties of the NN system.