Laboratory frame and center of mass frame

Masatsugu Suzuki
Department of Physics, SUNY at Binghamton
(Date: February 01, 2021)

The scattering experiment is actually carried out in the laboratory frame, where a beam of
particles is being scattered by some fixed scattering center (target). This is called the
laboratory frame. In fact, the target is always free to move. In order to compare experiment
with theory, it is necessary to convert what is actually observed in the laboratory frame to
what would have been observed in the center of mass frame. Since the observation of
scattered flux is done with macroscopic apparatus, this is a purely classical problem. So it
can be solved using classical notions. We note that the center of mass frame is favorable
compared to the laboratory frame from a theoretical view-point. The separation of the
system from the center of mass leads to the decrease of the degree of freedom from 6 to 3.
In many cases, the scattering theory is discussed in terms of the center of mass frame.
Here the relation between the cross sections in the center of mass frame and the
laboratory frame is discussed.

1. Momentum conservation and the energy conservation

v1L f

q1L
v1L i

m1 m2
q2L

v2L f

Fig. Laboratory frame. The initial momentum is mi v1Li . The scattering angle of the
particle 1 with mass m1 is 1L .

1
In the laboratory frame, the velocities of the particles 1 and 2 before and after collision,
are defined by

v1Li , v2Li , v1Lf , v2L f ,

where

v2Li  0

since the particle with mass m2 is at rest before the collision. The center of mass velocity
is given by

m1
vCM  v1Li
m1  m2

In the center of mass frame

v1CM
i , v 2CM
i , v1CM
f , v2CMf ,

We have the relation

v1Li  v1CM
i  vCM , v2Li  v2CM
i  vCM , (1a)

v1Lf  v1CM
f  vCM , v2L f  v2CMf  vCM , (1b)

where

m2 m1
v1CM
i  v1Li  vCM  v1Li , v 2CM
i  v 2Li  vCM   v1Li .
m1  m2 m1  m 2

Note that

m1 CM
m1v1CM
i  m2v 2CM
i 0 or i 
v2CM v1i
m2

(i) The momentum conservation in the laboratory frame;

2
 m1v1Li  m2 v2Li  m1v1Lf  m2 v2L f .

which means that the velocity of the center of mass remains unchanged before and after
the collision. Using Eqs.(1a) and (1b), we get

m1v1Li  m1 (v1CM
f  vCM )  m2 ( v2 f  vCM )
CM

or

f  m2 v2 f  m1v1i  ( m1  m2 ) vCM  0
m1v1CM CM L

or

m1 CM
f  m2 v2 f  0 ,
m1v1CM v2CMf  
CM
or v1 f (2)
m2

(ii) The energy conservation law;

m1 v1Li   m 2 v 2Li   m1 v1Lf   m2 v 2L f 

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

2 2 2 2

Using Eqs.(1a) and (1b), we get

m1 v1CM
f  vCM   m2 ( v2CMf  vCM ) 2  m1 v1Li 
1 2 1 1 2

2 2 2

or

1 1 1 1
 
2
f ) 
m1 (v1CM m2 (v 2CMf )2  (m1v1CM
f  m2 v2 f )  vCM  (m1  m2 )(vCM )2  m1 v1Li
2 CM

2 2 2 2

or

3
 1 1 1
  1
2
f ) 
m1 (v1CM m2 (v 2CMf )2  m1 v1Li  (m1  m2 )(vCM ) 2
2

2 2 2 2
m1v1Li 2
1
  1
2
 m1 v1Li  (m1  m2 )( ) (3)
2 2 m1  m2
1
 
2
  v1Li
2

or

1 1 1
 
2
f ) 
m1 (v1CM 2
m2 (v2CMf )2   v1Li
2 2 2

f  m2 v 2 f  0 ,  is the reduced mass and is given by

where m1v1CM CM

m1m2
 .
m1  m2

Using Eqs.(2) and (3), we get

 v1Li 
1 1 m 1 2
f ) 
m1 ( v1CM m2 (  1 v1CM
f ) 
2 2

2 2 m2 2

or

2
1
2
f ) 
m1 ( v1CM 2 1 m1
2 m2
f ) 
( v1CM 2 1 m1m2
2 m1  m2
v1Li 
2

or

2 2
 m2v1Li   m1v1Li 
v 
2
CM 2
(v )   , and
CM
 
 m1  m2   m1  m2 
1f 2f

4
 vCM
1f

vCM qCM vCM

1i 2i

m1 m2

vCM
2f

Fig. The center of mass frame. The scattering angle of the particle 1 with mass m1 is
 CM . In this plane, the z axis is in the horizontal direction and the y axis is in the
vertical direction.

The y and z components of v1CM

f and v2CMf ;

v 
CM
1f y f sin 
 v1CM CM

m2 v1Li
m1  m2
sin  CM ,

v 
CM
1f z f cos 
 v1CM CM

m2 v1Li
m1  m2
cos CM ,

v 
CM
2f y  v CM
2f sin  CM

m1v1Li
m1  m2
sin  CM ,

v 
CM
2f z  v2CMf cos CM  
m1v1Li
m1  m2
cos CM .

where the z axis is in the horizontal direction and the y axis is in the vertical direction.

Using Eq.(1b), we have

5
 v1Lf  v1CM
f  vCM , v2L f  v2CMf  vCM ,

we have

m2v1Li
v   v   v 
L
1f y
CM
1f y CM y f sin 
 v1CM CM

m1  m2
sin  CM ,

v   v   v 
L
1f z
CM
1f z CM z

v CM
1f cos  CM
 vCM
m2v1Li m1v1Li
 cos  
CM

m1  m2 m1  m2
(m1  m2 cos  CM ) L
 v1i
m1  m2

v   v   v 
L
2f y
CM
2f y CM y

m1v1Li
m1  m2
sin  CM ,

v   v   v 
L
2f z
CM
2f z CM z
L
mv m1v1Li
 cos  CM 
1 1i
m1  m2 m1  m2
(m1  m1 cos  CM ) L
 v1i
m1  m2

where

m1
vCM  v1Li .
m1  m2

The scattering angle in the laboratory scheme:

v L
1f m2 sin  CM
tan   
L y
1
v L
1f z
m1  m2 cos CM
,

v 
L
2f y m1 sin  CM sin  CM
tan  L
  
2
v 
L
2f z m1  m1 cos  CM 1  cos  CM
.

6
 m1 m2
Center of mass frame. v1CM
i  v1Li  vCM  v1Li  v1Li  v1Li ,
m1  m2 m1  m2
m2 v1Li m1 v1Li
vCM
 v CM
, v CM
  vCM . v1Li  v1CM
f  v2CMf .
m1  m2 m1  m2
1f 1i 2f

m1 CM m m1
v 2CMf   v1 f . v 2CMf  1 v1CM  v1Li  vCM .
m1  m2
f
m2 m2
m1 CM m1
i 
v2CM v1i   v1Li  vCM .
m2 m1  m2
v1Lf  v1CM
f  vCM , v2 f  v2 f  vCM ,
L CM

3. Example-1: m2/m1 = 2.
Here we assume that m2/m1 = 2.

(a)  CM  80 .

y
CM
80 Degree C vCM F
m1 1
m2 2 v1CM
f

v1Lf

CM

v1Li L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B

v2Lf

v2CM
f

D vCM G

(b)  CM  60 .

7
 y
CM
60 Degree
m1 1
C vCM F
m2 2
v1CM
f

v1Lf
CM

v1Li L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B

v2Lf
v2CM
f

D vCM G

(c)  CM  40

8
 y
CM
40 Degree
m1 1
m2 2

C v CM F
v1CM
f

v1Lf
CM

v1Li
L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B

v2CM v2Lf
f

D vCM G

(d)  CM  20

9
 y
CM
20 Degree
m1 1
m2 2

v1CM
f C vCM F

CM
v1Lf
v1Li
L
x
E vCM A v1CM
v
i
CM O v2CM
i B
2f
vCM vL
D G2 f

3. Example-2: Identical particles ( m2  m1 )

Here we consider the case of m2  m1 (identical particles)

v1Li v1Li
vCM
1f  , v CM
2f   vCM . v1Li  v1CM
f  v2CMf . v 2CMf  v1CM
f . v2 i  v1i
CM CM
.
2 2
v v
L
1f
CM
1f  vCM , v L
2f  v2CMf  vCM

In the laboratory scheme;

EO  v 1Li , OF  v1Lf , OG  v2L f .

v 1Li  v1CM
i  v CM , v1Lf  v1CM
f v
CM
, v2L f  v 2CMf  v CM

In the center of mass scheme:

10
AO  v1CM
i , BO  v 2Li , OC  v1CM
f , OD  v2CMf

v CM : center of mass velocity

EA  CF  DG  v CM

((Elastic scattering))
Here we show some examples for the laboratory and center of mass schemes for the elastic
scattering of two particles with the same mass, where v1Li and  CM are given and v2Li  0 . We note
that the points A, B, C, and D are on the same circle with the radius ( vCM  v1Li / 2 ) centered at
the origin O. The vectors v1Lf and v2L f are denoted by the vectors OF and OG , respectively. The
angle FOG  90 . Because of the momentum conservation ( v1Lf  v 2L f  v1Li ), we have
OF  OG  OH . The point H is on the same circle with the radius ( v1Li ) centered at the origin.
Since FOG  90 (which is independent of  CM ), the points O, E, and F lie on the same circle
with the radius vCM .

11
Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes.  CM  90 .  L  45 .

Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes.  CM  80 .  L  40 .

12
Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes.  CM  60 . .  L  30

13
Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes.  CM  40 .  L  20 .

14
Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes.  CM  20 .  L  10 .

15
 y

C F
CvCM F
vCM
C F
v1CMfv CM vL vCM
1 f CM 1 f L
vCM
1f
CM
v1 f
L
v1Li CMCML v
vCM L 1L f C vCM F
O 1 f L
L v
1f H x
E v1CM CM v2Lf v2CM
DA v
i 2CM
f
CM
F
G
v2Lf i B
v2 f CM L
v CM v2 f L
vCM2 fv2 f F v2 f
D G
vCM F
D vCM G F
D G

Fig. Scattering of two identical particles (the same mass) in the laboratory and center of mass
schemes,  CM is changed as a parameter.  L   CM / 2 .

4. Differential cross sections in the laboratory frame and the center of mass
frame
The relation between the cross sections in the center of mass frame and the laboratory
frame can be obtained from the fact that the same particles which go into the solid angle
dCM at  CM in the center of mass frame go into the solid angle dL at  L in the
laboratory frame. Therefore, we have

16
  L (1L ) sin 1L d1L   CM ( CM ) sin  CM d CM ,

or

sin  CM d CM
 L (1L )   CM ( CM ) .
sin 1L d1L

Using the relation

m2 sin  CM
tan 1L  ,
m1  m2 cos CM

we have

(1   2  2 cos  CM )3 / 2
 L (1L )   CM ( CM ) ,
1   cos  CM

where

m1
  .
m2

The kinetic energy of the laboratory frame is

K L  m1 v1Li  .
1 2

In the center of mass frame, it is

K CM 
1 m1m2
2 m1  m2
v1Li  .
2

Then we have

m2
K CM  KL .
m1  m2

17
((Mathematica))

m2 Sin@θD
Clear@"Global`"D; θL = ArcTanB F;
m1 + m2 Cos@θD

1 Sin@θD
f1 = êê Simplify@ , H m1 + m2 Cos@θDL > 0D & ;
D@θL, θD Sin@θL D
f2 = f1 ê. 8 m1 → γ m2< êê Simplify@ , m2 > 0D &
3ê2
I1 + γ2 + 2 γ Cos@θDM
1 + γ Cos@θD

_______________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
R.H. Dicke and J.P. Wittke, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Addison-Wesley, Reading MA,
1966).
A. Das, Lectures on Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition (World Scientific Publishing, 2012).
J.R. Taylor, Scattering Theory: The Quantum Theory on Nonrelativistic Collisions (John Wiley &
Sons, 1972).
P.T. Martin, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, second edition (McGraw-Hill Book Company,
New York, 1968).
A.G. Sitenko, Theory of Scattering (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1971).
N. Zettili, Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications, 2nd edition (Wiley).

APPENDIX-I: Examples.

18
 y
CM
60 Degree
m1 1
m2 1

C vCM F
v1CM
f
v1Lf

CM

v1Li
L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B

v2Lf

v2CM
f

D vCM G

19
 y
CM
60 Degree
m1 1
C vCM F
m2 2
v1CM
f

v1Lf
CM

v1Li L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B

v2Lf
v2CM
f

D vCM G

20
 y
CM
60 Degree C vCM F
m1 1
m2 3 v1CM
f

v1Lf
CM

v1Li L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B
v2Lf
v2CM
f

D vCM G

21
 y C vCM F
CM
60 Degree
m1 1 v1CM
f
m2 4

v1Lf
CM

v1Li L

x
E vCM A v1CM
i O v2CM
i B
v2Lf
v2CM
f
D vCM G

APPENDIX-II Mathematica

22
23
24
APPENDIX-III Mathemtica (identical mass)
Identical mass; m1  m2

25
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