Form Factor for Scattering (like muons off of protons)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of form factors in scattering processes, specifically related to muons interacting with protons. The original poster is attempting to understand the behavior of the form factor as the momentum transfer approaches zero.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to analyze the limit of the form factor as momentum transfer approaches zero, expressing uncertainty about their calculations involving sine and cosine functions. Some participants suggest using power series expansions for sine and cosine to evaluate the limit more effectively.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaging in a productive discussion, exploring the mathematical treatment of the sine and cosine terms. There is an acknowledgment of the need to express these functions in power series to clarify the behavior of the overall term as momentum transfer approaches zero.

Contextual Notes

There is an indication that the original poster is working within specific constraints set by their professor, particularly regarding the behavior of the form factor at low momentum transfer. The discussion reflects a focus on mathematical rigor and the implications of different terms in the limit process.

Martin89
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Homework Statement


Form factor.png


Homework Equations


N/A

The Attempt at a Solution


I am trying to complete the last part of this question, part 5(c). My professor has told me that the form factor $$F(q)\rightarrow1$$ as $$q\rightarrow0$$ but I am unsure how to show this.

I believe that $$\lim_{{q }\rightarrow0} \frac{\sin\left( qRh/\hbar\right)}{q^3}=\infty,$$ and $$
\lim_{{q }\rightarrow0} \frac{\cos\left( qRh/\hbar\right)}{q^2}=\infty.$$ Is someone able to please show me where I am going wrong? Thanks.
 

Attachments

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Consider the term in brackets. Express sin x and cos x as power series in x, and evaluate this term as far as q2.
 
mjc123 said:
Consider the term in brackets. Express sin x and cos x as power series in x, and evaluate this term as far as q2.

Thanks for the help. I discovered that I had to express sinx in powers up to q3 to solve correctly.
 
Yes, but as the sin term is divided by q, the whole term in brackets goes up to q2. That's what I meant.
The key point is that if you treat the sin and cos terms separately, they both tend to infinity, but the whole term does not.
 

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