Comment on ''Recoil saturation of the self-energy in atomic systems''

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.38.4912· OSTI ID:6723765

Au, C K

The effective potential in low-energy two-body scattering obtained by the ''self-energy method'' is identical to the effective potential commonly defined as the Fourier transform of the scattering transition amplitude (the T matrix) with respect to the momentum transfer. Because of the convenience that may occur in the exchange of the order of integration, nonadiabatic recoil corrections may be disguised as momentum-dependent corrections. These momentum-dependent corrections are distinct from energy-dependent corrections. In certain forms, they may violate either T invariance or Hermiticity. Their origin is attributable to a mathematical artifact and there exists a systematic method of converting the momentum-dependent correction terms into truly local form. When recoil effect is important, these nonadiabatic corrections cannot be ignored even at threshold energy when all energy-dependent corrections vanish. In certain cases, such as in the extrapolation of the effective potential to short-distance behavior, each of the nonadiabatic corrections may be comparable to the leading term. On resummation, these may greatly alter the behavior of the effective potential indicated by the leading term alone. The previous analysis of J. R. Manson and R. H. Ritchie (Phys. Rev. A 35, 5249 (1987)) on the saturation effect due to recoil in the scattering of Coulombic systems is based on neglect of these nonadiabatic corrections disguised as momentum-dependent corrections while extrapolating the effective potential to short-distance behavior. The present Comment points out the flaw in such a procedure.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
• OSTI ID: 6723765
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 38:9; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
ATOM COLLISIONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COLLISIONS
CORRECTIONS
COULOMB SCATTERING
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ENERGY
INTERACTIONS
POTENTIALS
RECOILS
SCATTERING
SELF-ENERGY
TRANSITION AMPLITUDES