Noniterative Solutions of Integral Equations for Scattering. I. Single Channels

Abstract

A new method (homogeneous integral solution) for solving collision problems utilizing an integral equation formalism is presented. The approach is noniterative and applies equally well to purely local interactions or problems with combined local and nonlocal interactions. The method involves transforming the integral equation of scattering into a Volterra integral equation of the second kind. It follows that even for nonlocal interactions, the wavefunction may be determined noniteratively from knowledge of its value at a single point (the origin). A simple numerical procedure is proposed for solution of the Volterra equation which allows one to avoid matrix inversions completely. At the end of the calculation, the scattering $T$ or $R$ matrix is obtained directly from the solutions. The method is illustrated by a calculation of the singlet and triplet s‐wave Hartree–Fock phase shifts for electron–H‐atom scattering.