Virtual Detector Theory of Free-Particle Wave Packets

Abstract

We apply a recently emerging "virtual detector" method to general free-particle wave packets. We discuss what is actually detected by a virtual detector and give analytical expressions in both the real space and the momentum space. We prove that in the asymptotic limit when the time difference between wave packet creation and detection is large, resembling real detection processes, the obtained differential momentum distribution is equivalent to Fourier transforming the free-particle wave packets. We further consider the situation with the presence of laser fields.