Quantum-mechanical deflection function

The classical deflection function for scattering by a radially symmetric po tential corresponds to twice the angular momentum derivative of the scatter ing phase shifts calculated in the conventional WKB approximation. A "quant um-mechanical deflection function" defined as twice the angular momentum de rivative of the quantum-mechanical phase shifts (without WKB approximation) is able to incorporate into the simple trajectory picture certain quantum aspects of the scattering process,e.g., the influence of the Goos-Hanchen s hift. We demonstrate the performance of this quantum-mechanical deflection function for sharp-edged and smooth-edged two-dimensional scattering potent ials. [S1050-2947(99)05708-X].