SIF3011 QUANTUM MECHANICS II SEMESTER 2 2021/2022

TUTORIAL 2

Please submit the solution to Question 2 in the Spectrum latest by Friday, 1 July 2022.

Please take note of the formulae in yellow boxes.

Chapter 4 Scattering Theory

Scatterings are important process in physics as it involves reactions such as nuclear reactions in stars
and particle physics in CERN.

The scattering amplitude at points away from the scattering centre, the (first) Born approximation in
integral form (refer to Eq. (4.13) in lecture notes) is given by

!" $%&(())
𝑓(𝜃) = − ∫ 𝑉(𝑟)𝑟 ! 𝑑𝑟. (4.13)
ℏ! ()

We have dropped the “ ’ ” symbol for the radial variable as what we have used in the lecture notes.
Certain texts might retain 𝑟 + in the integral but it does not cause any confusion here if we omit “ ’ ”.

As an example of the application of Born approximation, consider the nuclear reaction in which alpha
particles are scattered by a potential from a target nucleus:

−𝑉,, 𝑟 < 𝑎
𝑉(𝑟) = ,2𝑍𝑒 !
, 𝑟>𝑎
𝑟

1. Starting from Eq. (4.13) in the lecture notes and given above, calculate the scattering amplitude,
𝑓(𝜃). You will need the following integral:
.
cos 𝑞𝑎
4 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑞𝑟) 𝑑𝑟 = .
/ 𝑞

2. The differential cross section (refer to Eq. (4.6) in lecture notes) is given by

𝑑𝜎(𝜃) = |𝑓(𝜃)|! .

Calculate 𝑑𝜎(𝜃).

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SIF3011 QUANTUM MECHANICS II SEMESTER 2 2021/2022

Chapter 5 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Neutrinos have important implications or roles in nuclear beta decays, particle physics and
astrophysics. Nobel prize in physics has been awarded to discoveries in neutrino physics recently
notable in neutrino oscillations.

3. Follow the derivation of the neutrino helicity states starting from the Dirac equation for massless
particles. Why does we consider the massless form of the Dirac equation?

Solutions to the massless particles for spinor 𝜒(𝑝⃗) you would obtain to Question 3 describes a left-
handed neutrino, 𝜈0 for positive energy solution (+𝐸 and +𝒑) and a right-handed antineutrino, 𝜈̅1 for
negative energy (−𝐸 and −𝒑). Likewise, for spinor 𝜙(𝑝⃗) describes a right-handed neutrino, 𝜈1 for
positive energy solution (+𝐸 and +𝒑) and a right-handed neutrino, 𝜈̅1 (−𝐸 and −𝒑).

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