Variable phase equation in quantum scattering

Abstract

This paper presents the derivation and applications of the variable phase equation for single channel quantum scattering. The approach was first presented in 1933 by Morse and Allis and is based on a modification of the Schrödinger equation to a first order differential equation, appropriate to the scattering problem. The dependence of phase shift on angular momentum and energy, together with Levinson's theorem, is discussed. Because the variable phase equation method is easy to program it can be further explored in an introductory quantum mechanics course.