Notes on Scattering Theory

Tomás A. Arias

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Department of Physics

Physics 8.04 May 29, 1997

• Contents
• Introduction
• Propagation of a Wave Packet in Free Space
  • Solutions to the Time Independent Schrödinger Equation (TISE)
  • Normalization of the solutions
  • Allowed energies
  • Physical Interpretation of the Solutions to the TISE
  • Wave packets
  • The Method of Stationary Phase: Location of the packet
• General Features of Scattering States
  • Summary
  • Solutions of the TISE
  • Left- and right- incident boundary conditions
  • Normalization Convention
  • Physical interpretation of the solutions of the TISE
  • Wave packets
  • Location of the packets
  • Normalization of the Packets
• Example: Scattering from a Potential Step
  • Solutions to the TISE
  • Physical interpretation of the solution: probabilities of reflection and transmission and discussion
  • Time delay
• About this document ...

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