0 ratings0% found this document useful (0 votes) 57 views10 pagesLecture XVI
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Example: Coulomb scatteri
@ Due to long range nature of the Coulomb scattering potential, the
boundary condition on the scattering wavefunction does not apply.
@ We can, however, address the problem by working with the screened
(Yukawa) potential, U(r) = UpS, and taking a — 20. For this
potential, one may show that (exercise)
me sin(Ar) pia Uo
foam =U [ dre" =a
Therefore, for a — 00, we obtain
which is just the Rutherford formula.to Fermi’s Golden rule
@ Previously, in the leading approximation, we found that the
transition rate between states and i and f induced by harmonic
perturbation Ve'*? is given by Fermi’s Golden rule,
@ In a three-dimensional scattering problem, we should consider the
initial state as a plane wave state of wavevector k and the final
state as the continuum of states with wavevectors k’ with w = 0.
@ In this case, the total transition (or scattering) rate into a fixed solid
angle, dQ, in direction (0,@) given by
2 2:
Thee = SO Fk Vik) 70 (Ex — Ex) = FEUURIV|k)Pe(E)
i i
wean
where g(Ex) = Dy, 5(Ex — Ex) = Sf is density of states at energy
— Pe
F = Be,From Born approximation Golden rule
by andk dD 1
8(E) = a GE ~ Qx/Lp k]m
@ With
and incident flux jp = hk/m, the differential cross section,
@ At first order, Born approximation and Golden rule coincide.Scattering by
@ So far, we have assumed that incident particles and target are
distinguishable. When scattering involves identical particles, we
have to consider quantum statistics:
ath of fst partic
@ Consider scattering of two identical particles. In centre of mass
frame, if an outgoing particle is detected at angle 6 to incoming, it
could have been (a) deflected through 9, or (b) through x — @.
@ Classically, we could tell whether (a) or (b) by monitoring particles
during collision — however, in quantum scattering, we cannot track.Scattering
@ Therefore, in centre of mass frame, we must write scattering
wavefunction in appropriately symmetrized/antisymmetrized form —
for bosons,
elke
(1) =e +o + (F(0) + (7 — 8) ——
@ The differential cross section is then given by
as opposed to |f(8)|? + |f(a —0)|* as it would be for distinguishable
particles.Scattering by an atomic lattice
@ Asa final application of Born approximation,
consider scattering from crystal lattice: At low
energy, scattering amplitude of particles is again
independent of angle (s-wave).
© In this case, the solution of the Schrédinger equation by a single
atom i located at a point R; has the asymptotic form,
eklr-Ril
\r— Ril
a(r) = eR) 4 fF
@ Since k|r — Rj| ~ kr — k’- R;, with k’ = ké, we have
@ From this result, we infer effective scattering amplitude,
f(0) =fexp[-iA-R], MO=k’—-kScattering by atomic lattice
@ If we consider scattering from a crystal lattice, we must sum over all
atoms leading to the total differential scattering cross-section,
2
= |e =
Si exp[-iA - Ri]
Ri
@ For periodic cubic crystal of dimension L4,
sum translates to Bragg condition,
& =p 5()(k — k — 2nn/L)
where integers n known as Miller indices of
Bragg planes.Scattering theory: summary
@ The quantum scattering of particles from a localized target is fully
characterised by differential cross section,
= elk ae : i
where y)(r) = e/*" + (0, b)£— denotes scattering wavefunction.
@ The scattering amplitude, f(@), which depends on the energy
E = Ex, can be separated into a set of partial wave amplitudes,
f(0) = Sees 1)fe(k)Po(cos 4)
f=0
where f;(k) = 24 sin dy defined by scattering phase shifts 5¢(k)Scattering theory: summary
@ The partial amplitudes/phase shifts fully characterise scattering,
@ The individual scattering phase shifts can then be obtained from the
solutions to the radial scattering equation,
@ Although this methodology is “straightforward”, when the energy of
incident particles is high (or the potential weak), many partial waves
contribute.
@ In this case, it is convenient to switch to a different formalism, the
Born approximation.Fale atte a SLA
@ Formally, the solution of the scattering wavefunction can be
presented as the integral (Lippmann-Schwinger) equation,
@ This expression allows the scattering amplitude to be developed as a
power series in the interaction, U(r).
@ In the leading approximation, this leads to the Born approximation
for the scattering amplitude,
feorm(Q) = E / Bre U(r)
where A =k —k! and A = 2ksin(0/2).