Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / 6 / b / Solution

Assume a positive-energy incoming particle, $E>m{c}^2$, and a nonzero upward step $V_0>0$. Set $M=m{c}^2$ and $k=\sqrt{E^2-M^2}/(\hslash c)>0$. With the common time factor $e^{-iEt/\hslash }$ removed, take ${\varphi }_{<}(x)=e^{ikx}+r{e}^{-ikx}$ and ${\varphi }_{>}(x)=t{e}^{iqx}$. The right-hand wavenumber satisfies $q^2=[(E-V_0{)}^2-M^2]/(\hslash c{)}^2$; its physical branch is specified in part (c). Integrating the stationary equation across the finite step requires continuity of $\varphi$ and ${\varphi }^{\prime }$, giving $1+r=t$ and $k(1-r)=qt$. ThusThese are wave amplitudes, not flux probabilities. The Noether current of scalar electrodynamics, in a convenient common normalization for a stationary mode, is ${\rho }_Q=(E-V)|\varphi {|}^2/(m{c}^2)$ and $j_Q=(\hslash /m)\mathrm{Im}({\varphi }^{\ast }{\partial }_x\varphi )$. For a real $q$, its charge-current ratios are $\mathcal{R}=|r{|}^2$ and $\mathcal{T}=(q/k)|t{|}^2$, with $\mathcal{R}+\mathcal{T}=1$. The same statement uses $\mathrm{Re}q$ for a decaying solution. The electrostatic potential couples through the time derivative; it is not a Lorentz-scalar mass shift. A zero step is recovered separately with $q=k$, $r=0$ and $t=1$.