Derivation of Rutherford’s scattering formula

1. Model assumptions

ƒ The interaction between alpha particles and atomic nuclei is formed only by Cou-
lomb interaction; i.e. electrostatic forces between charged particles; all other
forces such as gravitational forces or nuclear forces are neglected.
ƒ Alpha particles and nuclei are considered point like; diameter of nucleus was not
known in those days.
ƒ Relativistic effects can be neglected (m ~ 1.001 m0) because the velocity of alpha
particles is about v ~ 0.1c.
ƒ The scattering process of alpha particles happens only by the interaction with
one nucleus; multiple scattering in the very thin metal foil can be neglected.
ƒ Mass of Au nuclei is much larger than mass of alpha particles (mAu/mHe =
197au/4au ~ 50); gold nuclei are considered to be at rest.
ƒ The flux of alpha particles is homogeneous in space and in time (use of dia-
phragm to achieve a beam of alpha particles; lifetime of radioactive source (Am-
241 is 433 a).

The derivation of the scattering formula by Rutherford will be presented in two steps:
first, the deflection (scattering) of a charged particle by a charged scattering centre; sec-
ond, the scattering of many particles by the atomic nuclei of the metal foil.

2. Scattering of one particle by one nucleus

2.1 Qualitative considerations

The collision parameter b is defined as the smallest distance between particle and scat-
tering centre without any kind of interaction. A positively charged particle (q = +ze) is
moving with constant velocity v and collision parameter b from infinity towards the scat-
tering centre (Q = +Ze). Under the action of the Coulomb force F this incoming particle
will be deflected and is passing the scattering centre under an angle ϑ .

Scattering process (parameters see text; for vectors only the scalar value is given).

1
The particle will be scattered more
ƒ if the collision parameter is smaller (this particle is passing the scattering centre
in a smaller distance and thus feeling a stronger Coulomb force),
ƒ if its velocity v0 is smaller (the Coulomb force is acting for a longer period),
ƒ if the mass of the particle is small,
ƒ if the atomic number z of the particle is larger or if the atomic number Z of the
scattering centre is larger (due to larger Coulomb forces).

The three dimensional problem can be reduced to a two-dimensional one,

ƒ since the trajectory of the scattered particle is lying in a plane through the scatter-
ing centre (in that case the Coulomb force is a radial force),
ƒ since particles with the same collision parameter, possess the same trajectory
(the problem is rotational symmetric around an axis through the scattering centre,
parallel to the incoming direction).

During this motion

ƒ the distance r between particle and scattering centre is getting smaller (incoming
channel), has a minimum value and is getting larger (outgoing channel),
ƒ the energy is conserved, i.e. in the incoming channel the kinetic energy Ekin is
decreased and the potential energy Epot (in the Coulomb potential) is increased;
in the outgoing channel the change of both kinds of energies is reversed.

2.2 Derivation of the relation b(ϑ)

According to these qualitative considerations of the former section we expect a relation

between collision parameter and scattering angle ϑ(b) depending on the following pa-
rameters of the scattered particle (mass m, velocity v0, kinetic energy Ekin, charge ze)
and scattering centre (charge Ze).

Calculation Explanation
Coulomb force

ƒ is acting along the whole scattering process

qQ zZe2 ƒ since both particles are positive this force is pointing
F= = (1)
4πεor 2
4πεor 2 radial away from the scattering centre
ƒ is increasing during coming closer to the scattering
centre and decreasing during moving away; i.e. ac-
celeration is not constant

conservation of angular momentum

G
G dL G G G G G ƒ this conservation law is delivering the relation be-
M= = r × F = 0 ⇒ L = mr × v = konst.
dt tween distance r and angle ϕ (or angle ϑ)
dϕ ƒ the angular momentum L of the scattered particle is
L = mrv sin ϕ = mbv o = mr 2 ω = mr 2 constant with respect to scattering centre, because
dt the Coulomb force is acting radial (no torque, cen-
dt tral field!)
⇔ r 2 = bv o (2)
dϕ ƒ the angular momentum of the particle with velocity
v0, starting at infinity, is equal to the angular mo-
mentum at an arbitrary point on the trajectory.

2
G G
F = ma ⇔ Fx = ma x und Fy = ma y Newton’s laws
zZe2 sin ϕ zZe2 sin ϕ dϕ dv y
Fy = F sin ϕ = = =m ƒ the real motion of the scattered particle can be
4πεor 2
4πεobv o dt dt
separated in a motion in x- and y-direction
dv y dt zZe2 sin ϕ dv y (ϕ) ƒ the force Fy in y-direction can be calculated accord-
⇒ ⋅ = = (3) ing to the figure above and with equation (1) and (2)
dt dϕ 4πεobv om dϕ

zZe2 velocity in y-direction

v y ( ϕ) = − cos ϕ + C
4πεobv om
ƒ integration of equation (3)
zZe2 zZe2 ƒ the integration constant C can be determined
v y (0) = − +C = 0 ⇔ C =
4πεobv om 4πεobv om due to the fact that this particle has no compo-
nent of velocity vy at the beginning (ϕ = 0)
zZe2
v y ( ϕ) = (1 − cos ϕ) 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ π − ϑ (4) ƒ angle ϕ is varying between 0 and π-ϑ (see fig-
4πεobv om ure)

Ekin + Epot = konst.

1 1
mv o 2 + 0 = mv ∞ 2 + 0 ⇒ v o = v ∞
2 2
final velocity in y-direction
v y ( π − ϑ) = v o sin ϑ
zZe2 ƒ according to the conservation law of energy the ve-
(1 − cos( π − ϑ)) = v o sin ϑ locity of the scattered particle is v0 at the beginning
4πεobv om
and at the end of the scattering process
mit − cos( π − ϑ) = cos ϑ ƒ the particles velocity vy (see eq. (4)) is v0sin ϑ at the
zZe2 sin ϑ sin ϑ ϑ end of the scattering process (see figure)
= vo mit = tan( ) ƒ some transformations lead to eq. (5)
4πεobv om 1 + cos ϑ 1 + cos ϑ 2
ϑ zZe2
v o tan( ) = für 0 ≤ ϑ ≤ 180° (5)
2 4πεobv om

zZe 2 ϑ 1 relation between collision parameter and scattering

b(ϑ) = cot( ) mit Ekin = mv 0 2
4πεo v o m
2
2 2 angle b(ϑ)
zZe 2 ϑ ƒ From equation (5) we get the collision parameter b;
b(ϑ) = cot( ) (6)
8πεoEkin 2 inserting Ekin; we get finally the result b(ϑ).

3. Scattering of many particles by atomic nuclei of the metal foil

The scattering of one particle by one scattering centre is technically impossible. There-
fore, we will explain by the two following figures, how many particles of the flux of parti-
cles will be scattered by an angle ϑ:

Scheme of experiment with distance s be-
tween particle source and metal foil, distance
R between scattering centre and detector,
area of metal foil AF , area of spherical ring
∆AK, area of detector ∆AD
Microscopic view of the metal foil with
scattering centres, density n of scattering
centres, area AF of metal foil, area of
spherical ring ∆Ab and thickness d of
3 metal foil.
 Calculation Explanations

number of particles ∆Nb with collision parameter

∆Ab = 2πb∆b in the interval b and b + ∆b

∆Ab,ges = nAF d∆Ab = nAF d2πb∆b ƒ Particles with collision parameter b and b + ∆b will
∆Ab,ges ∆Nb hit a spherical ring area ∆Ab. With the help of the
= total number of all scattering centres (nAFd) we
AF N
get the total number of effective scattering area
N NAFdn2πb ∆Ab,ges
∆Nb = ∆Ab,ges = ∆b = Ndn2πb∆b (7)
AF AF ƒ Under the assumption of an homogeneous parti-
cle beam/flux the following relation N ~ AF holds
for the number of particles N which hit the metal
foil area AF.

´
 ϑ  1 relation between ∆b and ∆ϑ
co t( 2 ) = − ϑ
  2 sin2 ( )
2 ƒ Differentiation of relation (6) with respect to angle
zZe2 ∆b ϑ will deliver (8)
b´(ϑ) = − ≡ (8) ƒ We omit the minus sign in the following, because
ϑ ∆ϑ
16πεoEkin sin2 ( ) it has no physical meaning.
2

number ∆N of particles which are scattered in the

interval ϑ and ϑ+∆ϑ
ϑ
 zZe2  cos( 2 )
2

∆N = Nndπ  ∆ϑ (9) ƒ We get this relation by inserting equations (6) and


 8πεoEkin  sin3 ( ϑ ) (8) into equation (7).
2 ƒ The minus sign in (8) was omitted, because only a
positive number of particles makes sense; there-
fore cos(ϑ/2)/sin3(ϑ/2) ≥ 0 für ϑ ∈ ]0°,180°]

area ∆AK formed by the scattered particles, scat-

tered in the interval ϑ and ϑ+∆ϑ
∆A K = 2πR sin ϑR∆ϑ = 2πR2 sin ϑ∆ϑ
ϑ ϑ ƒ In that spherical ring area ∆AK the area density
mit sin ϑ = 2 sin( )cos( )
2 2 N/A is constant due to rotational symmetry.
ϑ ϑ ƒ Due to the figure the width of the spherical ring is
∆A K = 4πR sin( )cos( )∆ϑ (10)
2
R∆ϑ, the inner radius is Rsinϑ, so we get for this
2 2
area ∆AK.
ƒ With some transformations we get e.g. (10)

number of scattered particles ∆NK which pene-

2 trates the spherical ring area ∆AK
Nnd  zZe2  1
∆NK = 2   ∆A K (11)
R  16πεoEkin  ϑ ƒ Reorganizing eq. (10) we get ∆ϑ; this we insert in
sin4 ( )
2 equation (9) and we finally get equation (11).

∆NK ∆ND Rutherford’s scattering formula

=
∆A K ∆A D
2 Number of scattered particles ∆ND registered by
Nnd  zZe2  1 the detector with area ∆AD
∆ND =   ∆A D (12)
R2  16πεoEkin  4 ϑ
sin ( )
2 ƒ We assume that the area density N/A is constant
0 < ϑ ≤ 180 on area ∆AK.