Axion production via Bremsstrahlung - Simple maths question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the mathematical transformation of the differential cross section in Bremsstrahlung processes that produce axions instead of photons, as detailed in the paper "PhysRevD.34.1326". The key variable change involves expressing the cross section in terms of the axion energy, \(E_a\), and the initial electron energy, \(E_e\). The correct relationship is established as \(\frac{d\sigma}{d E_a} = \frac{d\sigma}{d x} \cdot \frac{dx}{dE_a}\), leading to the conclusion that the differential cross section can be expressed as \(\frac{d\sigma}{d E_a} = f(E_a/E_e) \cdot \frac{1}{E_e}\). The discussion clarifies the algebraic manipulation required to reverse the variable change.

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  • Understanding of differential cross sections in particle physics
  • Familiarity with Bremsstrahlung processes
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Milsomonk
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Hi all,
I am looking for clarification on what is probably a pretty basic change of variables between a few lines in the following paper:

https://journals.aps.org/prd/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevD.34.1326

Equation (9) shows the differential cross section for a Bremsstrahlung process which creates an axion instead of a photon, the cross section is expressed as a differential in ##x## where ##x=E_a/E_e##, the ratio of the emitted axion energy to initial electron energy. Between Equation (8) and (9) a change of variables takes place such that ##\frac{d\sigma}{d E_a} \rightarrow \frac{d\sigma}{d x}##. What is the correct process to reverse this change of variable so that I have the cross section expressed as differential in axion energy ##E_a##? I infer that the author must have done the following substitution (I express the particular algebraic form of the cross section as ##f## for brevity):

$$ \frac{d\sigma}{d E_a} = f(E_a/E_e) = f(x)$$
$$\frac{d\sigma}{d x} = \frac{d\sigma}{d E_a}\cdot \frac{dE_a}{dx} = f(x)* E_e$$

If this is correct, then to reverse the change of variables we have:

$$\frac{d\sigma}{d E_a} = \frac{d\sigma}{d x}*\frac{dx}{dE_a}=f(E_a/E_e)\frac{1}{E_e}$$

Or have I missed something?
 
Last edited:
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It should be instead of ##f(E_a/E_c)##, ##f(x)*E_c##; so you are missing a factor of ##E_c## , but this of course is circular and you are back with what you started with. :cool:
 
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