Anomalous H/D cross-sections in deep inelastic neutron scattering: some critical remarks on two current theoretical explanations

Some controversial deep inelastic neutron scattering experiments have revealed that various anomalies in the double-differential cross-sections of H and D nuclei seem to occur. Two different models, based on quantum entanglement and decoherence, have been proposed so far to explain such a peculiar behaviour. Both models are analysed in detail and criticisms are raised on some crucial assumptions of theirs. If these assumptions are lifted, then it is shown that the two models provide standard results for the double differential cross-sections of both H and D. It is concluded that entanglement and decoherence (at least in the proposed form) cannot be responsible for the reported H/D cross-section anomalies. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.