Monday, September 29, 2014

quantum mechanics - Collision of 2 neutrons


If two neutrons collide in 3D space and we want to determine the final velocities of both nuetrons (3 components for each neutrons), we can use the conservation of momentum equations and the conservation of energy equation. Those equations are 4 while the number of unknowns we have is 6. There are 2 free variables.


For classical perfectly spherical objects, the solution is strait forward as explained here. However, neutrons because of their quantum nature can't be treated as classical perfectly spherical objects. We can't define a precise point of collision, so the trick we use for classical objects won't work for neutrons or any quantum level particle, or will it?


If it doesn't work, does that mean we can't avoid having free two degrees of freedom in this system??


NOTE: What is meant by a collision is a momentum-exchange event




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