Effective field theory for bound state reflection

Elastic quantum bound-state reflection from a hard-wall boundary provides direct information regarding the structure and compressibility of quantum bound states. We discuss elastic quantum bound-state reflection and derive a general theory for elastic reflection of shallow dimers from hard-wall surfaces using effective field theory. We show that there is a small expansion parameter for analytic calculations of the reflection scattering length. We present a calculation up to second order in the effective Hamiltonian in one, two, and three dimensions. We also provide numerical lattice results for all three cases as a comparison with our effective field theory results. Finally, we provide an analysis of the compressibility of the alpha particle confined to a cubic lattice with vanishing Dirichlet boundaries.

► General theory of bound state reflection. ► Derivation of effective potential for shallow dimers. ► Effective field theory for inhomogeneous systems. ► Comparison with Bethe Ansatz and lattice calculations. ► Properties of alpha particle reflecting from hardwall boundary.