Initial wave packets and the various power-law decreases of scattered wave packets at long times

Abstract

The long time behavior of scattered wave packets $\psi (x,t)$ from a finite-range potential is investigated, by assuming $\psi (x,t)$ to be initially located outside the potential. It is then shown that $\psi (x,t)$ can asymptotically decrease in the various power laws at long time, according to its initial characteristics at small momentum. As an application, we consider the square-barrier potential system and demonstrate that $\psi (x,t)$ exhibits the asymptotic behavior $t^{-3/2}$, while another behavior like $t^{-5/2}$ can also appear for another $\psi (x,t)$.