Classical inverse scattering problem

At a given total energy, E, the “de‡ection function” is

Z 1
1 dr
(b) = 2b q
r0 1 1 b2 r2
EV (r) r2

where r0 is the largest zero of the radicand. From a theoretical point of view, the most familiar situation is to
hypothesize a potential and compute (b), hence the scattering cross section, and then check the hypothesis
by comparing to data. This is the direct scattering problem.
But suppose (b) is known …rst, e.g. from laboratory measurements. How do we then determine the
potential V (r)? This is the classical inverse scattering problem [1]. To determine V , …rst de…ne the
auxilliary function Z
1 1 (b)
T (u) = p db
b 2 u2
u

This is known as an Abel transform.1 The inverse Abel transform is

Z 1
T 0 (u)
(b) = 2b p du
b u2 b2
as follows from direct substitution, interchanging integrations, and integrating by parts [3]. So, for these re-
lations to be valid, evidently there are some implicit assumptions about the di¤erentiability and integrability
of the and T functions.
In any case, given the de‡ection function, and T constructed from it, under certain conditions the
complete potential for V E can be obtained parametrically through the pair of equations

r = u exp T (u)
V = E (1 exp ( 2T (u)))

Necessary conditions for this to be true are easy to state in physical terms. It is necessary that E be greater
than the largest energy for which bounded orbits can occur [2].

An example: V = 1=r2
Suppose it is alleged by folks in the lab that
!
2
d
= 2 2
d E sin (2 )

where > 0 is a measured constant and where d = 2 sin d as usual. Suppose the experimenters also
note that when the particles are incident “dead center” they are always scattered back ( = ) for any
available energy. From this we infer that the potential has a repulsive core of a height (1 perhaps) that
exceeds any of the available energies. Furthermore, the experimenters also note the lack of any perceptible
de‡ection for very large impact parameters, from which we infer = 0 for b = 1.
The question is, what’s the analytic form of the potential that gives this di¤erential cross-section? Let
us follow the inverse route above and …rst determine (b). From the cross-section, we have
2
2 jbdbj = d = 2 2 2d
E (2 )

Thus Z Z
b
1 2 1
b = bdb = 2d
2 0 C2 2
(2 )
1 Or, depending on who’s talking, sometimes this is called an Euler transformation. (See [2].) By the way, this year, 2007,

is the 300th anniversary of Euler’s birth. (see, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonhard_Euler)

1
where we have de…ned C 2 E= 2 0 and where we have incorporated a repulsive Rcharacter for the
potential by taking d = 2 bdb upon removing the absolute value signs. OK then, 2 (2 )2
d =
1 ( )2 1 d ( )2 ( )2 2 2
2 2 (2 ). Check: 2d 2 (2 ) + 2 (2 )2
= 0. So we have 2 (2 ) = , or ( ) =
2 2
p
(2 ) where Cb = b E= 2. The solutions of this quadratic equation are:
q
2 2 2 2
( )= 2 2 1+ 1+
1+

Now which root do we take? Well, at b = 0 both solutions give ( = 0) = , by construction. The other
obvious physical limit is b ! 1, for which + ! 2 and ! 0. Thus we take to be the solution.
q
( )= 1+ 2 2 1+ 2 2
1+ 2 2
The next step is to construct the auxilliary function
Z Z
1 1 (b) 1 1 ( )
T (u) = p db = p d
b2 u 2 2
u Cu C 2 u2

The integral is surprisingly easy (for Maple!) and gives just a logarithm:
R1 p 2 2 2

Cu
p 21
2 2 1+
1
2 2 1+ 2 2 1 + 2 2 d = 12 ln 1+C u
C 2 u2 2 .
C u
The auxilliary function is therefore
1 + Eu2
T (u) = ln
2 Eu2
From this we construct
r
+ Eu2
r = u exp T (u) =
E
Eu2 E
V = E (1 exp ( 2T (u))) = E 1 =
+ Eu2 + Eu2

That is to say, Er2 = + Eu2 and

V (r) =
r2
Ah! If only things were always so simple.

References
[1] J B Keller, I Kay, and J Shmoys, Phys. Rev. 102 (1956) 557-559.
[2] W Miller, J. Chem. Phys. 51 (1969) 3631-3638.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_transform