The three-hole line contribution to the Equation of State of symmetric
nuclear matter is calculated by solving the Bethe-Fadeev equations wi
thin the standard choice for the single particle auxiliary potential.
The results, given up to the Fermi momentum k(F) = 1.8 fm(-1), show sa
tisfactory agreement with the only previous calculation, performed by
Day. The corresponding Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculation, within the
continuous choice for the single particle potential, appears to be ver
y close to the full Equation of State which includes also an estimate
of the four-hole line contribution. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Sci
ence B.V.