Quantum backflow and scattering
Quantum Physics
2017-07-24 v2 Mathematical Physics
math.MP
Abstract
Backflow is the phenomenon that the probability current of a quantum particle on the line can flow in the direction opposite to its momentum. In this article, previous investigations of backflow, pertaining to interaction-free dynamics or purely kinematical aspects, are extended to scattering situations in short-range potentials. It is shown that backflow is a universal quantum effect which exists in any such potential, and is always of bounded spatial extent in a specific sense. The effects of reflection and transmission processes on backflow are investigated, both analytically for general potentials, and numerically in various concrete examples.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1703.04597,
title = {Quantum backflow and scattering},
author = {Henning Bostelmann and Daniela Cadamuro and Gandalf Lechner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1703.04597},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
minor changes, as published in Phys. Rev. A; 13 pages, 11 figures, 3 videos, computer code