Does this problem warrant a taylor expansion? (solid state physics)

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining the atomic form factor \(f\) in solid state physics under two limiting conditions: \(a_o \gg \lambda\) and \(a_o \ll \lambda\). The derived formula for the atomic form factor is \(f = \left(\frac{4}{4 + (a_o G)^2}\right)^2\), where \(G = \frac{4\pi}{\lambda}\sin\theta\). As \(a_o \gg \lambda\), the form factor approaches zero, while for \(a_o \ll \lambda\), it approaches one. The inquiry also explores whether a Taylor expansion is appropriate for analyzing the dependence of the form factor on the angle \(\theta\).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of atomic form factors in solid state physics.
  • Familiarity with the Bohr radius \(a_o\) and its significance.
  • Knowledge of reciprocal lattice vectors and their relation to scattering.
  • Basic principles of Taylor expansions and their application in physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of the Taylor expansion in the context of atomic form factors.
  • Explore the relationship between scattering angles and atomic form factors in solid state physics.
  • Investigate the behavior of the atomic form factor under varying conditions of \(a_o\) and \(\lambda\).
  • Learn about the significance of reciprocal lattice vectors in crystallography and solid state physics.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, solid state researchers, and students studying crystallography or materials science who are interested in the mathematical modeling of atomic interactions and scattering phenomena.

skate_nerd
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The whole problem I'm doing here is not even really relevant, so I won't go too much into it...I'm told to find an atomic form factor given some certain conditions, and I do a big gross integral and got this:
$$f=(\frac{4}{4+(a_oG)^2})^2$$
where \(a_o\) is the Bohr radius and \(G\) is the magnitude of an arbitrary reciprocal lattice vector.
After finding this, I am asked to find the atomic form factor as
\(a_o>>\lambda\) and as
\(a_o<<\lambda\).
This seems pretty simple because there is a relation between \(\lambda\) and \(G\):
$$G=\frac{4\pi}{\lambda}\sin\theta$$
Plugging that into my formula for the form factor, I quickly assumed that \(a_o>>\lambda\) will just make \(\frac{a_o}{\lambda}\) really large, so the denominator of the form factor gets really large and then is approximately zero. And as \(a_o<<\lambda\), \(\frac{a_o}{\lambda}\) is approximately zero, so the form factor ends up being 1.

The problem, however, also asks for both of the limiting cases if the form factor ends up depending on \(\theta\). I'm not sure why this would be asked for each case if one of them didn't end up with a \(\theta\) dependence...
So I'm asking for some advice, would it make sense to use a taylor expansion on either or both of these limiting cases? Why or why not?

Thanks for your attention!
 
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skatenerd said:
The whole problem I'm doing here is not even really relevant, so I won't go too much into it...I'm told to find an atomic form factor given some certain conditions, and I do a big gross integral and got this:
$$f=(\frac{4}{4+(a_oG)^2})^2$$
where \(a_o\) is the Bohr radius and \(G\) is the magnitude of an arbitrary reciprocal lattice vector.
After finding this, I am asked to find the atomic form factor as
\(a_o>>\lambda\) and as
\(a_o<<\lambda\).
This seems pretty simple because there is a relation between \(\lambda\) and \(G\):
$$G=\frac{4\pi}{\lambda}\sin\theta$$
Plugging that into my formula for the form factor, I quickly assumed that \(a_o>>\lambda\) will just make \(\frac{a_o}{\lambda}\) really large, so the denominator of the form factor gets really large and then is approximately zero. And as \(a_o<<\lambda\), \(\frac{a_o}{\lambda}\) is approximately zero, so the form factor ends up being 1.

The problem, however, also asks for both of the limiting cases if the form factor ends up depending on \(\theta\). I'm not sure why this would be asked for each case if one of them didn't end up with a \(\theta\) dependence...
So I'm asking for some advice, would it make sense to use a taylor expansion on either or both of these limiting cases? Why or why not?

Thanks for your attention!

Hi skatenerd!

Can it be that something like the following is intended? (Wondering)
\begin{array}{c|c|c|}
& a_0 \gg \lambda & a_0 \ll \lambda \\
\hline
\theta=0 & f = 1 & f=1\\
\hline
\theta = \pm \frac \pi 2 & f = 0 & f = 1\\
\hline
\end{array}
 

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