Numerical Simulation Study of Neutron-Proton Scattering using Phase Function Method

TL;DR

This paper introduces a numerical phase function method to simulate neutron-proton scattering, successfully matching experimental data at various energies and demonstrating potential for broader applications in physics.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel numerical approach using the phase function method to solve quantum scattering problems, with accurate results for neutron-proton interactions across a wide energy range.

Findings

Yukawa potential matches experimental data at low energies

Malfliet-Tjon potential provides accurate results up to 350 MeV

Calculated scattering parameters are consistent with experiments

Abstract

In this article, we propose a numerical approach to solve quantum mechanical scattering problems, using phase function method, by considering neutron-proton interaction as an example. The nonlinear phase equation, obtained from the time-independent Schrodinger equation, is solved using the Runge-Kutta method for obtaining S-wave scattering phase shifts for neutron-proton interaction modeled using Yukawa and Malfliet-Tjon potentials. While scattering phase shifts of S-states using Yukawa match with experimental data for only lower energies of 50 MeV, Malfliet-Tjon potential with repulsive term gives very good accuracy for all available energies up to 350 MeV. Utilizing these S-wave scattering phase shifts, low energy scattering parameters, and total S-wave cross section have been calculated and found to be consistent with experimental results. This simulation methodology can be easily extended to study scattering phenomenon using phase wave analysis approach in the realms of atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics.