Scattering amplitudes from quantum potentials

Connect scattering states and observable cross sections through partial waves, integral equations, resonances, and low-energy universality.

10 published lessons1 module350 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Scattering amplitudes from quantum potentialsadvanced · 10 lessons

Follow the path or begin with a question. Every lesson is open.

Your notebook0 of 10 lessons completed

Your place, at your pace. Progress is optional and saved only in this browser when available.

Inside this module

Each lesson includes an interactive lab

Scattering amplitudes from quantum potentials

Connect scattering states and observable cross sections through partial waves, integral equations, resonances, and low-energy universality.

  1. 01

    Asymptotic scattering states and flux

    Normalize incident and outgoing waves so that a scattering amplitude predicts a measurable event rate.

    35 min
  2. 02

    Partial-wave phase shifts

    Resolve central-potential scattering into angular momentum channels and extract phase shifts from radial matching.

    35 min
  3. 03

    Optical theorem in potential scattering

    Derive the forward-amplitude constraint from elastic partial waves and diagnose perturbative apparent violations.

    35 min
  4. 04

    Born approximation and Fourier potentials

    Compute weak-potential amplitudes with an explicit Fourier convention and identify when repeated scattering cannot be neglected.

    35 min
  5. 05

    Lippmann–Schwinger resolvent equation

    Encode outgoing boundary conditions in the free resolvent and distinguish an exact integral equation from its Born iteration.

    35 min
  6. 06

    S-matrix unitarity and eigenphases

    Normalize open channels by flux and distinguish full unitary scattering from loss in a selected elastic channel.

    35 min
  7. 07

    Breit–Wigner resonances and time delay

    Connect an isolated scattering pole to phase motion, width and a wave-packet delay without confusing delay with lifetime.

    35 min
  8. 08

    Scattering length and effective range

    Extract low-energy s-wave parameters with explicit sign conventions and a controlled threshold expansion.

    35 min
  9. 09

    Bound states as scattering poles

    Continue amplitudes into complex momentum and separate normalizable bound states from virtual states and resonances.

    35 min
  10. 10

    Identical-particle scattering symmetrization

    Add direct and exchange amplitudes before squaring and count indistinguishable final pairs once.

    35 min
All physics modules