A model for the inelastic scattering of a particle on a bound system

Juan Gonzalo Muga, Robert F. Snider

An analytically solvable model is described for the inelastic collision of two particles moving in one dimension but having an orientation dependent interaction. The bound states and scattering matrix for this system are explicitly calculated.

G. F. Drukarev

Rainer Dick

We show that inelastic scattering leads to a collapse of the wave function within standard evolution through the Schroedinger equation, whereas elastic scattering will not collapse the wave function. Specifically, we find that the initial width of the emerging wave function in inelastic scattering is primarily determined by the size of the participating scattering center, but not by the width of the incoming wave function. This implies that dynamical collapse of the wave function through inelastic scattering, together with energy quantization in bound quantum systems, can explain the emergence of particle-like signals without the need to invoke the Born rule.

E. Corinaldesi

E. Corinaldesi

Alexey V. Melkikh

In this paper, a constructive definition of entanglement for nonidentical particles is given. It is shown that particles arising in the process of inelastic scattering are entangled with each other. This property is a consequence of the symmetry of fundamental interactions. Considering detectors of elementary particles, it was concluded that only inelastic scattering can be the basis of a measuring instrument. In the process of inelastic scattering, the measuring instrument can acquire information about the particle (system), while in the case of elastic scattering, it cannot. The nonlinearity of inelastic scattering naturally solves the measurement problem in quantum mechanics.