Quantum slit diffraction in space and in time of a Gaussian wave packet and semi-classical approximation

Beau, Mathieu and Dorlas, T. C. (2013) Quantum slit diffraction in space and in time of a Gaussian wave packet and semi-classical approximation. (Preprint)

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Abstract

We revisit the famous problem of quantum slit diffraction of a three-dimensional Gaussian wave packet, taking into account the diffraction in time phenomenon for a reflective or absorbing slit. We first recall the theory of diffraction in space and in time to give an explicit integral formula for the single-slit propagator (for a two-dimensional aperture) assuming that the time of opening the aperture coincides with the time of emission of the particle. Then we derive a semiclassical expression for the amplitude when the parameter μ = m(|r|^2)/(ħt) is large, where r is the position of the particle with mass m detected on the screen at the time t. We also give corrections to the law giving the distance between two fringes in the Fraunhofer regime when the distances of the apparatus in the propagation direction are large compared to the size of the aperture of the slit. To conclude, we discuss the phenomenological consequences and we give a new perspective to investigate the quantum diffraction phenomenon particulary for the cold atom slit experiment.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	School of Theoretical Physics > Preprints
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2018 13:49
Last Modified:	18 Dec 2022 08:31
URI:	https://dair.dias.ie/id/eprint/534

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