RECENT DETERMINATIONS OF THE PI-NN COUPLING-CONSTANT AND DEUTERON PROPERTIES

We examine the deuteron properties using the new value for the pi-NN coupling constant, g-pi-2/4-pi = 13.3 +/- 0.3, which has been obtained in a recent analysis of pi +/- p data and is about 7% smaller than earlier determinations. We find that this value is at variance with the deuteron properties if the strong empirical (Hohler-Pietarinen) rho coupling is assumed which, in fact, is used in almost all modern realistic meson-theoretic models for the NN interaction. Within such models, a minimum of 13.9 for g-pi-2/4-pi is required, especially for the correct description of the deuteron quadrupole moment.