Quantum kinetic energy densities: An operational approach

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1875052· OSTI ID:20722238

Muga, J G; Seidel, D; Hegerfeldt, G C ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Quimica-Fisica, UPV-EHU, Apartado 644, Bilbao (Spain)

We propose and investigate a procedure to measure, at least in principle, a positive quantum version of the local kinetic energy density. This procedure is based, under certain idealized limits, on the detection rate of photons emitted by moving atoms which are excited by a localized laser beam. The same type of experiment, but in different limits, can also provide other non-positive-definite versions of the kinetic energy density. A connection with quantum arrival time distributions is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 20722238
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 15; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1875052; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
DETECTION
EXCITED STATES
KINETIC ENERGY
LASER RADIATION
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PHOTONS