Wave Packet Sizes in Quantum Mechanical Scatterings: New Perspective
arXiv:2509.04539
Abstract
Particles exist with a probability of 1 and are represented by wave packets in quantum mechanics. These wave packets satisfy the Schrödinger equation and are classified as either bound states or continuum states with finite coherence lengths. They undergo transitions according to unambiguous absolute probabilities, the magnitudes of which depend on the sizes of the wave packets. Because these sizes are not universal constants but depend on the environment and experimental conditions, their accurate estimation is essential. The sizes of propagating wave packets are determined by their environmental coherence lengths, whereas those of bound states are determined by their wave functions. Here, we present a systematic analysis of wave-packet sizes.
62 pages,5 figures