We consider the cross section for a scattering reaction averaged over a statistical ensemble of incident beam wave packets. We generalize a result known from neutron diffraction that static experiments involving stationary scattering via conservative interactions and steady beam currents cannot distinguish the wave-packet nature of the incident beam. Thus we interpret the results of recent experiments on the loss of interference effects in proton scattering from molecular hydrogen as due to the weak collimation of the incident beam rather than alterations to beam wave packets.

• Received 20 May 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.032705