Differential cross section from an operator viewpoint

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Abstract
It is shown that a differential cross section can be identified as a matrix element of a transition superoperator between an observable (density operator) describing unit planar flux and an observable operator for unit spherical flux per steradian. The analysis exactly parallels the usual treatment of scattering of wavefunctions, but is done entirely in terms of density operators. The large distance (far from the scattering center) behavior of the scattered density operator is conveniently described in terms of the equivalent Wigner distribution function. For simplicity of presentation, rearrangement collisions are excluded from discussion, but the treatment may easily be extended to include such effects.