Generalized reaction forces from potential scattering

Abstract

The forces exerted by momentum reaction from the potential scattering of nonrelativistic particles are investigated. By application of the adiabatic principle to the variation of a parameterx, the average generalized force $$\bar F_x $$ is expressed as a surface integral of the wave function and its variation. The surface integral is reduced to a form involving particle-flux amplitudes, and derivatives of the collision matrix with respect tox. In this form the results are the same as for radiation-pressure forces in electromagnetism or acoustics. Some implications arising from an identification of the reaction forces with radiation pressures of a Schrodinger field are outlined.