On Scattering of 1-D Wave Packets

Abstract

We present an exact solution to the one-dimensional (1-D) scattering-from-a-barrier problem for an incident neutron described by a wave packet. As an aid to presenting our approach, we spend some time on a basic review of how wave packets appear in standard quantum mechanics (SQM), paying attention to interpretive aspects of a working theory both familiar on the one hand while historically subject to debates, confusion, and misunderstandings on the other. Several appendices also are included to address various mathematical issues that may be helpful to some readers.