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Abstract: Numerical Simulations of Alpha Tracks Authors: Andrew Platt, Ken Kiers, Wytse van Dijk We consider a question proposed by Mott many years ago: How is it that the wave function of an alpha particle emitted during a nuclear decay is spherically symmetric, yet the track observed in bubble chamber experiments follows a linear trajectory? We address Mott's question by using a time-dependant numerical approach that employs a pair of idealized quantum mechanical "detectors" placed around the initial alpha particle wave function. We consider the one-dimensional analog of Mott's problem in detail and then offer insights into the more interesting two-dimensional case. |