Influence of Ergodic Behavior on the Scattering of Slow Neutrons by a Harmonic Oscillator

Random quantum jumps of a harmonic oscillator in contact with a temperature bath are shown to give rise to a general broadening of the slow neutron scattering peaks. An exception occurs in the case of the elastic scattering peak, a major component of which remains unbroadened. In general, the broadening increases with the number of quanta transferred. The analysis is based on the "damped" oscillator model of Senitzky.