Momentum isotropisation in random potentials

TL;DR

This paper investigates how particles in a random potential become isotropic in momentum space, using numerical and master equation methods to measure scattering and isotropisation times, aiding in understanding disorder effects.

Contribution

It introduces a method to measure elastic scattering and isotropisation times to reconstruct the scattering phase function in strong disorder conditions.

Findings

Elastic scattering time can be measured numerically.

Characteristic isotropisation times are identified.

The phase function can be reconstructed even in strong disorder.

Abstract

When particles are multiply scattered by a random potential, their momentum distribution becomes isotropic on average. We study this quantum dynamics numerically and with a master equation. We show how to measure the elastic scattering time as well as characteristic isotropisation times, which permit to reconstruct the scattering phase function, even in rather strong disorder.