Maximal quantum scattering by homogeneous spherical inclusions

Abstract

Scattering of matter waves, present at multiple quantum setups, is required to be maximized in several applications from sensing and imaging to quantum switching and memory. The simplest case of a homogeneous spherical scatterer is rigorously solved and optimized with respect to its size, texture, and background by considering the effective quantum properties from a long directory of materials. In this context, several alternative layouts with maximal scattering efficiency are proposed, offering additional degrees of freedom in design without requirements for careful engineering of quantum texture. Many of the reported inclusions exhibit substantial selectivity in their scattering response, admitting them to operate as sharp filters for particle energies or sensitive detectors of electron beams.