In- and outbound spreading of a free-particle s-wave

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Aug 5;89(6):060404. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.060404. Epub 2002 Jul 23.

Abstract

We show that a free quantum particle in two dimensions with zero angular momentum (s wave) in the form of a ring-shaped wave packet feels an attraction towards the center of the ring, leading first to a contraction followed by an expansion. An experiment to demonstrate this effect is also outlined.