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Wave packets in the quantum theory of collisions

Journal Article · · Physics of Particles and Nuclei
Two methodological difficulties of the quantum theory of collisions are considered. The first is the undesirable interference of the incident and scattered waves in the stationary approach to scattering. The second concerns the nonstationary approach to the theory of collisions of the type a + b → c + d. In order to calculate the cross section one uses the matrix element 〈cd|S|ab〉 of the S-matrix. The element is proportional to δ-function expressing the energy conservation. The corresponding probability |〈cd|S|ab〉|{sup 2} contains δ{sup 2}, which is mathematically meaningless. The known regular way to overcome the difficulty seems to be unsatisfactory. In this paper, both the problems are resolved using wave packets of incident particles.
OSTI ID:
22974852
Journal Information:
Physics of Particles and Nuclei, Journal Name: Physics of Particles and Nuclei Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 39; ISSN 1063-7796
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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