Elastic quantum scattering amplitude
For stationary three-dimensional scattering by a short-range real potential, a unit-amplitude incident plane wave has asymptotic form ψ≈exp(ikz)+f(θ,φ)exp(ikr)/r.
Key knowledge
For stationary three-dimensional scattering by a short-range real potential, a unit-amplitude incident plane wave has asymptotic form ψ≈exp(ikz)+f(θ,φ)exp(ikr)/r. The differential cross section is dσ/dΩ=|f(θ,φ)|² when incident and outgoing speeds are equal.
Values and equations
ψ≈e^(ikz)+f(θ,φ)e^(ikr)/r; dσ/dΩ=|f|²; E=ħ²k²/(2m)
- ψ
- Relative scattering amplitude with unit incident plane-wave coefficient
- r,z
- Radial/incident-axis positions m
- k
- Exterior wavenumber m⁻¹
- f
- Scattering amplitude m
- σ
- Cross section m²
- Ω
- Solid angle sr
- θ,φ
- Scattering angles rad
- m
- Scattering/relative mass kg
- E
- Exterior kinetic energy J
- ħ
- Reduced Planck constant J s
Conditions and scope
- Nonrelativistic elastic single-channel scalar scattering, k>0, distinguishable projectile/target and an outgoing boundary condition; use the appropriate relative mass for a two-body reduction.
- Scattering waves are flux-normalized asymptotic states, not square-normalized bound states. Inelastic channels need speed factors; identical-particle symmetrization and unscreened Coulomb tails change the asymptotic formulation.
Sources · 1
References
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Evidence and review
Quantum Mechanics (2016): Fundamentals: Equations 10.1–10.13 and 10.20–10.28: outgoing Green function, incident-plus-outgoing amplitude and probability-current cross section.
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Entry details
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