Through scattering theory with gun and camera: Coping with conventions in collision theory
Michael A. Morrison, Andrew N. Feldt
Four ambiguities are inherent in time-independent quantum-mechanical scattering theory: two in the normalization of continuum functions, and two in the relation between various scattering matrices. These ambiguities allow the use of different conventions in scattering theory. This freedom has led to inconsistencies among textbooks, monographs, review articles, and research papers. We identify these ambiguities, indicate their context and origin in scattering theory, give the key equations of scattering theory in a form that can by adapted to any convention, and show interrelations between these equations that can lead to confusion and error. We also give several diagnostic approaches for determining the conventions used in a particular source, and reference conventions adopted in widely used books on scattering theory.
American Journal of Physics•Dec 13, 2006•11 citations