Differences between pairing and zero-range effective interactions for nuclear binding energies

In this paper, we show that, although the spectroscopic properties of the monopole pairing force and a zero-range delta-function interaction are very similar, their saturation properties are quite different. In particular, the predictions for binding energies when filling up a major shell are radically different past mid-shell. This has significant consequences for understanding the masses and binding energies of long isotopic chains of nuclei that will be accessible with advanced exotic beam facilities.