Nonclassical trajectories in head-on collisions

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum wave packet dynamics in head-on Coulomb collisions, revealing deviations from classical predictions due to potential convexity, and suggests experimental tests for nuclear reaction onset.

Contribution

It introduces a wave packet approach to Coulomb collisions, highlighting quantum effects and potential experimental implications not captured by classical models.

Findings

Quantum wave packets deviate from classical trajectories in Coulomb collisions.

Deviations are linked to the convexity of the Coulomb potential.

Potential experimental tests for nuclear reaction onset are proposed.

Abstract

Rutherford scattering is usually described by treating the projectile either classically or as quantum mechanical plane waves. Here we treat them as wave packets and study their head-on collisions with the stationary target nuclei. We simulate the quantum dynamics of this one-dimensional system and study deviations of the average quantum solution from the classical one. These deviations are traced back to the convexity properties of Coulomb potential. Finally, we sketch how these theoretical findings could be tested in experiments looking for the onset of nuclear reactions.