Scattering theory, resonances decay width

While we have developed the theory of wave-packet scattering and resonances in the context of potential scattering of electrons it is easy to generalise. In particular there is no reason why the scattered particle should not be a photon. In this case the wave packet does not spread and the formalism is valid for general values of 3. Wave packets are known whose widths correspond to a lifetime of order lO s, which is easily resolved with nanosecond electronics. Such wave packets arise in the photon decay of many atomic states. The time spectrum of detected photons is given by (r,t)p for X < 0. We see from (4.166) that this involves an interference between a term whose lifetime is h/3 and one whose lifetime is Xr. The resulting time oscillations have been observed experimentally. They are called quantum beats. 

More recently, Mies and Kraus have presented a quantum mechanical theory of the unimolecular decay of activated molecules.13 Because of the similarity between this process and autoionization they used the Fano theory of resonant scattering.2 Their theory provides a detailed description of the relationships between level widths, matrix elements coupling discrete levels to the translational continuum, and the rate of fragmentation of the molecule. 

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