Closest approach of a quantum projectile

Abstract

We consider the simplest case of Rutherford scattering, i.e. the head-on collision, where the projectile is treated quantum mechanically. The convexity of repulsive Coulomb force invokes a disagreement between the Ehrenfest's and Hamilton's dynamics. We show that the quantum projectile cannot approach as close as the corresponding classical one, and that the average distance of closest approach depends on the position spread of the wave function describing the projectile.