Nuclear forces — UPSC Physics Optional IFoS 2016 Paper II

Give an outline of meson theory of nuclear forces. Describe the physical basis of short-range nuclear repulsion between like nucleons : proton-proton (p\text{-}p) or neutron-neutron (n\text{-}n). Consider the following two three-nucleon systems : (p\text{-}p\text{-}p) and (n\text{-}n\text{-}n). Which one is more likely to form a bound state?