Boundary conditions for three-body scattering in configuration space

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Abstract
The asymptotic form of the three-body scattering wave function in configuration space is investigated. The value of the distance for which the asymptotic form is an accurate approximation to the scattering wave function is studied in detail. It is shown that previous estimates of the value for this distance were too large. Using model equations that reproduce the essential features of the scattered wave function we investigate the propagation out of two sources with different spatial extents. One source is localized and corresponds to the Born approximation for nucleon-deuteron scattering; the other has a large spatial extent corresponding to the breakup behavior in the wave function itself. These numerical examples provide new estimates for the distance at which the asymptotic form for breakup is an accurate approximation to the scattered wave function.