Quantum trajectories and the nuclear optical model

Abstract

Abstract In the context of nuclear scattering, we use the bipolar reduction of the Schrödinger equation to examine the effects of optical model absorption on incoming and outgoing scattering waves. We compare the exact solutions for these waves, obtained using a bipolar quantum trajectory-based formalism, with their approximate WKB counterparts. Aside from reducing the magnitudes of the incoming and outgoing waves, absorption smooths the variation of the potential at the turning point, reducing reflection in this region. This brings the incoming exact solution and WKB approximation into closer agreement, but tends to worsen the agreement between the outgoing solutions. Inside the turning point, the WKB approximation overestimates the inward decaying solution. The exact solution also possesses an outward going component, solely due to reflection, with no WKB counterpart.