Scattering and scale

Scattering by electrons
An electron can be used as a probe to ‘see’ structure in atoms, nuclei or nucleons. The electron can only
‘see’ structures larger than its de Broglie wavelength. The de Broglie wavelength is given by  = h / p,
–34 –1
where h is the Planck constant, 6.6  10 J Hz and p is the momentum. At large energies, the rest
energy of the electron (0.5 MeV) is negligible, and p = E / c, where E is the energy. Thus the wavelength
in terms of energy is given by  = h c / E. These questions explore this link between energy and scale,
with a handy fact worth remembering.
A handy fact for scaling:
1 fm at 1 GeV
–10
The size of an atom is of the order 0.1 nm, or 10 m. The size of a nucleus is a few times 1 fm
–15
(femtometre): 1 fm is 10 m.
–19
1. Using the conversion 1 eV = 1.6  10 J, write down the energy 1 GeV in joules.

2. Using the expression p = E / c, find the momentum of a 1 GeV electron.

3. Using the expression  = h / p, find the wavelength of a 1 GeV electron.

4. Demonstrate that the units of  = h c / E are metres.

You will have found that the de Broglie wavelength of a 1 GeV electron is close to 1 fm.
5. What is the smallest scale of structure you can probe with 1 GeV electrons?

Scale goes inversely as energy

Since the de Broglie wavelength of an electron is given by  = h c / E, the scale which can be probed with
electrons of energy E is inversely proportional to E. At E = 1 GeV, the scale for electrons as probes is of
the order 1 fm.
6. Can 1 GeV electrons ‘see’ objects the size of an atomic nucleus?
7. Down to what scale could you see with 100 GeV electrons?

–20
8. Suppose a new theory predicts objects on a scale of 10 m. What energy would be needed to probe
them? Try to find out if this is a practical possibility.

9. Write a few lines on the reasons why probing ever deeper into matter costs more than governments
are able or willing to afford.