Form Factor for Scattering (like muons off of protons)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on demonstrating that the form factor F(q) approaches 1 as q approaches 0 in the context of muon scattering off protons. A participant expresses confusion over limits involving sine and cosine functions, initially concluding that both tend to infinity. However, it is clarified that while the individual sine and cosine terms diverge, the overall expression remains finite when evaluated correctly. The resolution involves using power series expansions for sine and cosine to analyze the limit more accurately. Ultimately, the key takeaway is that careful treatment of the terms reveals that the limit does not diverge as initially thought.
Martin89
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Homework Statement


Form factor.png


Homework Equations


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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.
 

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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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