Homework 5: # 3.31, 3.32, 3.

7a
Michael Good
Sept 27, 2004

3.7a Show that the angle of recoil of the target particle relative to the incident
direction of the scattered particle is simply = 21 ( ).
Answer:

It helps to draw a figure for this problem. I dont yet know how to do this
in LATEX, but I do know that in the center of mass frame both the particles
momentum are equal.

m1 v10 = m2 v20
Where the prime indicates the CM frame. If you take equation (3.2) Gold-
stein, then its easy to understand the equation after (3.110) for the relationship
of the relative speed v after the collision to the speed in the CM system.
m2
v10 = v= v
m1 m1 + m2
Here, v is the relative speed after the collision, but as Goldstein mentions
because elastic collisions conserve kinetic energy, (Im assuming this collision
is elastic even though it wasnt explicitly stated), we have v = v0 , that is the
relative speed after collision is equal to the initial velocity of the first particle
in the laboratory frame ( the target particle being stationary).
m2
v10 = v0
m1 + m2
This equation works the same way for v20
m1
v20 = v0
m1 + m2
From conservation of momentum, we know that the total momentum in the
CM frame is equal to the incident(and thus total) momentum in the laboratory
frame.

(m1 + m2 )vcm = m1 v0
We see

1
 m1
vcm = v0
m1 + m2
This is the same as v20

v20 = vcm
If we draw both frames in the same diagram, we can see an isosceles triangle
where the two equal sides are v20 and vcm .

++=

1
= ( )
2

3.31 Examine the scattering produced by a repulsive central force f + kr3 .

Show that the differential cross section is given by

k (1 x)dx
()d =
2E x2 (2 x)2 sin x
where x is the ratio of / and E is the energy.
Answer:

The differential cross section is given by Goldstein (3.93):

 
s  ds 
() =
sin  d 
We must solve for s, and ds/d. Lets solve for (s) first, take its derivative
with respect to s, and invert it to find ds/d. We can solve for (s) by using
Goldstein (3.96):
Z
sdr
(s) = 2 q
rm r r 2 (1 V (r) ) s2
E

What is V (r) for our central force of f = k/r3 ? Its found from dV /dr = f .
k
V (r) =
2r2

2
 Plug this in to and we have
Z
sdr
(s) = 2 q
k
rm r r2 (s2 + 2E )

Before taking this integral, Id like to put it in a better form. If we look at

the energy of the incoming particle,

1 2 2 k s2 E k
E= mrm + 2 = 2 + 2
2 2rm rm 2rm
where from Goldstein page 113,

2s2 E
2 = 4
mrm
k
We can solve for s2 + 2E , the term in ,

2 k
rm = s2 +
2E
Now we are in a better position to integrate,

Z 
sdr 1 1 rm 
 1 s
(s) = 2 p = 2s [ cos ] = 2s ( ) = (1 q )
rm
2 2
r r rm r m r 
rm r m 2 s2 + k
2E

Goldstein gave us x = /, so now we have an expression for x in terms of

s, lets solve for s
s
x= =1 q
s2 + k
2E

k
k (1 x)2
s2 = (s2 + )(1 x)2 s2 = 2E
2E 1 (1 x)2
r
k (1 x)
s= p
2E x(2 x)
Now that we have s we need only ds/d to find the cross section. Solving
d/ds and then taking the inverse,
d 1 k 3
= s( (s2 + ) 2 )2s + q
ds 2 2E s2 + k
2E

k k
d s2 + (s2 + 2E ) 2E
= k 32
= k 32
ds (s2 + 2E ) (s2 + 2E )
So

3
 k 32
ds 2E(s2 + 2E )
=
d k
Putting everything in terms of x,

k k (1 x)2 k k 1
s2 + = + =
2E 2E x(2 x) 2E 2E x(2 x)
So now,

q q
k (1x) k 32
k (1x) k
2E( 2E 1 3
2E(s2 + x(2x) )
 
2E )
s  ds  2E x(2x) 2E x(2x)
2

() = = = =
sin  d  sin x k sin x k
And this most beautiful expression becomes..
1 1 k 1 2E k 3 1 x 1
() = ( )2 ( )( )2 p 3
sin x 2E k 2E x(2 x) (x(2 x)) 2
After a bit more algebra...
k 1 1 1x
() =
2E sin x (x(2 x))2
And since we know d = dx,

k (1 x)dx
()d =
2E x (2 x)2 sin x
2

3.32 A central force potential frequently encountered in nuclear physics is the

rectangular well, defined by the potential

V =0 r>a
V = V0 ra
Show that the scattering produced by such a potential in classical mechanics is
identical with the refraction of light rays by a sphere of radius a and relative
index of refraction
r
E + V0
n=
E
This equivalence demonstrates why it was possible to explain refraction phe-
nomena both by Huygens waves and by Newtons mechanical corpuscles. Show
also that the differential cross section is

n2 a2 (n cos
2 1)(n cos 2 )
() =
4 cos 2 (1 + n2 2n cos 2 )2
What is the total cross section?

4
Answer:

Ignoring the first part of the problem, and just solving for the differential
cross section,
sds
() =
sin d
If the scattering is the same as light refracted from a sphere, then putting
our total angle scattered, , in terms of the angle of incidence and transmission,

= 2(1 2 )
This is because the light is refracted from its horizontal direction twice, after
hitting the sphere and leaving the sphere. Where 1 2 is the angle south of
east for one refraction.

We know sin 1 = s/a and using Snells law, we know

sin 1 s
n= sin 2 =
sin 2 na
Expressing in terms of just s and a we have
s s
= 2(arcsin arcsin )
a na
Now the plan is, to solve for s2 and then ds2 /d and solve for the cross
section via

sds 1 ds2 1 ds2

= = =
sin d 2 sin d 4 sin d
2 cos 2

Here goes. Solve for sin

2 and cos 2 in terms of s

s s s s s s
sin = sin(arcsin arcsin ) = sin arcsin cos arcsin cos arcsin sin arcsin
2 a na a na a na
This is
r r
s s2 s2 s
= cos(arccos 1 2 2 ) cos(arccos( 1 2 )
a n a a na

Using arcsin x = arccos 1 x2 and sin(a b) = sin a cos b cos a sin b. Now
we have
s p 2 2 2)
p
sin = ( n a s a2 s2 )
2 na2
Doing the same thing for cos
2 yields

5
 1 p 2 p
cos = ( a s2 n2 a2 s2 + s2 )
2 na2
Using cos(a b) = cos a cos b + sin a sin b. Still solving for s2 in terms of cos
and sins we proceed

s2 p p
sin2 = 2 4 (n2 a2 s2 2 n2 a2 s2 a2 s2 + a2 s2 )
2 n a
This is

s2 2s4 2s2 p p
sin2 2 2
(n2 + 1) 2 4 2 4 n2 a2 s2 a2 s2
n a n a n a
Note that
p p
n2 a2 s2 a2 s2 = na2 cos s2
2
So we have

s2 2s2 2s2 s2
sin2 = 2 2 (n2 + 1 2 2n cos + 2 ) = 2 2 (1 + n2 2n cos )
2 n a a 2 a n a 2
Solving for s2

n2 a2 sin2
s2 = 2
1 + n2 2n cos
2
Glad that that mess is over with, we can now do some calculus. Im going
to let q 2 equal the denominator squared. Also to save space, lets say
2 = Q. I
like using the letter q.

ds2 a2 sin Qn2

= [cos Q(1 2n cos Q + n2 ) n sin2 Q]
d q2

ds2 n2 a2
= 2 sin Q[cos Q 2n cos2 Q + n2 cos Q n(1 cos2 Q)]
d q
Expand and collect

ds2 n2 a2
= 2 sin Q[n cos2 Q + cos Q + n2 cos Q n]
d q
Group it up

ds2 n2 a2
= 2 sin Q(n cos Q 1)(n cos Q)
d q
Plug back in for Q and q 2 :

6
 ds2 n2 a2 sin
2 (n cos 2 1)(n cos 2 )
=
d (1 2n cos 2 + n2 )2
Using our plan from above,

1 ds2 1 n2 a2 sin
2 (n cos 2 1)(n cos 2 )
=
=
4 sin 2 cos 2
d 4 sin 2 cos 2 (1 2n cos 2 + n2 )2
We obtain

1 n2 a2 (n cos
2 1)(n cos 2 )
() =
4 cos
2 (1 2n cos
2 +n )
2 2

The total cross section involves an algebraic intensive integral. The total
cross section is given by
Z max
T = 2 () sin d
0
To find max we look for when the cross section becomes zero. When
(n cos 2 1) is zero, well have max . If s > a, its as if the incoming particle
misses the sphere. At s = a we have maximum . So using max = 2 arccos n1 ,
we will find it easier to plug in x = cos
2 as a substitution, to simplify our in-
tegral.
1
(nx 1)(n x)
Z
T = a2 n2 2dx
1
n
(1 2nx + n2 )2
where
1 max 1
dx = sin d cos =
2 2 2 n
The half angle formula, sin = 2 sin
2 cos 2 was used on the sin , the
negative sign switched the direction of integration, and the factor of 2 had to
be thrown in to make the dx substitution.

This integral is still hard to manage, so make another substitution, this time,
let q equal the term in the denominator.

q = 1 2nx + n2 dq = 2ndx
The algebra must be done carefully here. Making a partial substitution to
see where to go:

qmin = 1 2 + n2 = n2 1 qmax = n2 2n + 1 = (n 1)2

(n1)2 (n1)2
2a2 n2 (nx 1)(n x) dq n(nx 1)(n x)
Z Z
T = = a2 dq
n2 1 q2 2n n2 1 q2

7
 Expanding q 2 to see what it gives so we can put the numerator in the above
integral in terms of q 2 we see

q 2 = n4 + 1 + 2n2 4n3 x 4nx + 4n2 x2

Expanding the numerator

n(nx 1)(n x) = n3 x nx + n2 x2 + n2
If we take q 2 and subtract a n4 , subtract a 1, add a 2n2 and divide the whole
thing by 4 well get the above numerator. That is:

q 2 n4 + 2n2 1 q 2 (n2 1)2

= = n(nx 1)(n x)
4 4
Now, our integral is
(n1)2
q 2 (n2 1)2
Z
2
T = a dq
n2 1 4q 2
This is finally an integral that can be done by hand
(n1)2
a2 (n2 1)2 a2 (n2 1)2 
Z
T = 1 dq = (z + )
4 q2 4 z  2
n 1

After working out the few steps of algebra,

a2 4n2 8n + 4
= a2
4 n2 2n + 1
The total cross section is

T = a2