Effective field theory of 3He

3He and the triton are studied as three-body bound states in the effective field theory without pions. We study 3He using the set of integral equations developed by Kok et al which includes the full off-shell T-matrix for the Coulomb interaction between the protons. To leading order, the theory contains two-body contact interactions whose renormalized strengths are set by the NN scattering lengths, the Coulomb potential and a three-body contact interaction. We solve the three coupled integral equations with a sharp momentum cutoff, Λ, and find that a three-body interaction is required in 3He at leading order, as in the triton. It also exhibits the same limit-cycle behaviour as a function of Λ, showing that the Efimov effect remains in the presence of the Coulomb interaction. We also obtain the difference between the strengths of the threebody forces in 3He and the triton. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.