On Scattering of 1-D Wave Packets

TL;DR

This paper provides an exact solution to 1-D wave packet scattering for neutrons, clarifying interpretive issues in quantum mechanics and including mathematical appendices for comprehensive understanding.

Contribution

It introduces a novel exact solution for 1-D wave packet scattering and discusses interpretive aspects of quantum mechanics with detailed mathematical support.

Findings

Exact solution to 1-D wave packet scattering

Clarification of interpretive issues in quantum mechanics

Mathematical appendices for advanced understanding

Abstract

We present an exact solution to the one-dimensional (1-D) scattering-from-a-barrier problem for an incident neutron described by a wave packet. As an aid to presenting our approach, we spend some time on a basic review of how wave packets appear in standard quantum mechanics (SQM), paying attention to interpretive aspects of a working theory both familiar on the one hand while historically subject to debates, confusion, and misunderstandings on the other. Several appendices also are included to address various mathematical issues that may be helpful to some readers.