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PUBLICATIONS

Wave Packet Scattering from Time-Varying Potential Barriers in One Dimension

Published

Author(s)

Robert M. Dimeo

Abstract

We summarize a method of solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation that incorporates adsorbing boundary conditions and a method for extracting the reflection and transmission probabilities for wave packets interacting with time-dependent potential barriers and then apply it to four systems of interest: a rectangular barrier that moves with constant velocity, an oscillating rectangular barrier, a locally-periodic barrier with an amplitude modulated by a traveling wave, and a locally-periodic potential with an amplitude modulated by a standing wave. Visualizations of the reflection phenomena are presented with an emphasis on understanding these systems from their dynamics. These calculations have relevance to non-stationary neutron optics experiments which are discussed briefly.
Citation
American Journal of Physics
Volume
82
Issue
2
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

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Keywords

quantum mechanics, dynamics, wave packets, neutron scattering, visualization, computational physics, numerical methods

Citation

Dimeo, R. (2014), Wave Packet Scattering from Time-Varying Potential Barriers in One Dimension, American Journal of Physics, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=914951 (Accessed October 31, 2025)

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Created February 1, 2014, Updated June 2, 2021
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