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American Journal of Physics

One-dimensional multiple scattering in quantum mechanics

Douglas Lessie, Joseph Spadaro

Published Oct 1, 1986• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The formal theory of multiple scattering in quantum mechanics is adapted to one dimension and applied to the basic problem of scattering by a double delta-function potential. The multiple scattering method is shown to provide a much more powerful analysis than is obtained by either the one-dimensional partial wave approach or by the standard differential solution to the Schrödinger equation.

DOI
10.1119/1.14788

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The formal theory of multiple scattering in quantum mechanics is adapted to one dimension and applied to the basic problem of scattering by a double delta-function potential. The multiple scattering method is shown to provide a much more powerful analysis than is obtained by either the one-dimensional partial wave approach or by the standard differential solution to the Schrödinger equation.
A phase-shift analysis of quantum mechanical scattering problems in one dimension is developed. Many of the techniques and results of three dimensions remain even in one dimension, while the discussion is vastly simplified, and thus accessible to the student much earlier, due to the absence of special functions (in particular, Bessel and Legendre functions) with their complicated asymptotic formulas and orthogonality relations. A “partial wave” analysis leads to the familiar relation fl∼eiδl sinδl between the scattering amplitude in the lth partial wave and the phase shift δl. The optical theorem is evident as an immediate consequence of the conservation of probability. The method is applied to an analysis of the well-known square-well scattering resonances.
A simple exact solution of a one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation which describes the motion of a particle in a continuous potential V(x)V(x)V(x) and scattering from a finite set of $\ensuremath{\delta}$-function potentials of arbitrary positions and strengths is found.
One-dimensional scattering problems are investigated in the framework of the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. First, the pole structure of the quantum momentum function for scattering wave functions is analyzed. The significant differences of the pole structure of this function between scattering wave functions and bound state wave functions are pointed out. An accurate computational method for the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation for general one-dimensional scattering problems is presented to obtain the scattering wave function and the reflection and transmission coefficients. The computational approach is demonstrated by analysis of scattering from a one-dimensional potential barrier. We not only present an alternative approach to the numerical solution of the wave function and the reflection and transmission coefficients but also provide a computational aspect within the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. The method proposed here should be useful for general one-dimensional scattering problems.
The concept of a generalized scattering amplitude is introduced and applied to quantum potential scatterings. After an outgoing spherical wave is factored out from a wave function, the remaining wave envelope is defined as the generalized scattering amplitude. The transformed Schr\"odinger equation, in terms of the generalized scattering amplitude, can be solved numerically by using a finite-difference method over the entire scattering domain. Example problems of scatterings by a spherical potential well and the (${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,H) static field interaction potential are solved to validate the theoretical formulation and numerical method. The far-field solutions for the ordinary scattering amplitude and differential cross section agree very well with those obtained from the partial-wave analysis. The radial profiles of the generalized scattering amplitude and particle density function over the entire scattering region are also presented, and their properties are discussed. These results demonstrate that the method can be used to yield a complete and accurate solution to scattering problems involving arbitrary interaction potentials.
Synopsis: Students are introduced to the ideas of particle scattering in quantum mechanics in a one-dimensional context. ƒe integral Schrödinger equation is deduced using a Wronskian technique, and reflection and transmission amplitudes are defined. Several simple scattering problems are solved, and the Born series for the energy-wave function is explained. A three-dimensional spherical basis is introduced, which allows the integral Schrödinger equation in this context to be formulated. ƒe relation between plane waves and spherical waves is found from a solution to the unit-source Helmholtz equation, again using the Wronskian technique. Partial waves, phase shifts, and cross sections are defined, and finite range scattering is considered. ƒe chapter concludes with a consideration of identical particle scattering and an application to the protonproton case, where a dramatic manifestation of the underlying substructure emerges at high energies.