Rutherford scattering - electromagnetic form factor

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the electromagnetic form factor in the context of Rutherford scattering. The original poster is attempting to understand the derivation of a specific expression related to the form factor, particularly how the sine function appears in the integral representation.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster explores the transformation of the integral involving the electromagnetic form function and questions the appearance of the sine function in the final expression. They attempt to break down the steps leading to this result.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance by suggesting the need to verify the limits of integration for the cosine term. The original poster acknowledges this and realizes the necessity of integrating over the entire nucleus, which leads to a revised understanding of the integral's limits.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes considerations of spherical symmetry and the implications of integrating over a spherical volume in the context of the problem. There is an emphasis on ensuring correct limits for the integral involved in the derivation.

skrat
Messages
740
Reaction score
8

Homework Statement


Hi there. This is not really a problem, I am only trying to understand something but I simply can't.
So Rutherford scattering says that $$ \frac{d\sigma }{d\Omega}=(\frac{Ze^2m}{8\pi \varepsilon _0 p^2})^2\frac{1}{\sin ^4(\Theta/2)}|F(q)|^2$$ where $$F(q)=\int \rho (\vec x)e^{i\vec q \cdot \vec x}d^3 \vec x$$ is the electromagnetic form function. Now for spherical symmetry: $$\rho (\vec x) \rightarrow \rho(x)$$ and $$\vec q \cdot \vec x=qrcos\Theta.$$ Meaning that my form function can be written as $$F(q)=2\pi\int _0 ^1 d(cos\Theta)\int _0 ^\infty r^2dr\rho(r)e^{iqrcos\Theta}=$$ $$=\frac{4\pi }{q}\int _0 ^\infty \rho(r)sin(qr)rdr.$$

I don't understand that last step. How the hell did we get ##sin(qr)##...?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok, tried to do it step by step in order to answer this question but this is as close as I could get:
Starting with
$$F(q)=2\pi\int _0 ^1 d(cos\Theta)\int _0 ^\infty r^2dr\rho(r)e^{iqrcos\Theta}=$$ $$=2\pi \int \rho (r)r^2dr\int e^{iqrcos\Theta}d(cos\Theta)=$$ $$=2\pi \int \rho (r)r^2dr \frac{1}{iqr}[e^{iqr}-1]=$$ $$=2\pi \int \rho (r)rdr \frac{1}{iq}e^{\frac{iqr}{2}}[e^{\frac{iqr}{2}}-e^{-\frac{iqr}{2}}]=$$ $$=\frac{4\pi }{q}\int \rho (r)re^{\frac{iqr}{2}}sin(\frac{qr}{2})dr$$

Now I wonder what am I doing wrong...?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Make sure you are using the correct limits for the integral ##d(\cos\Theta)##.
 
Aaaaaaaamm... Ah, of course, I have to integrate over the entire nucleus (sphere)...

So the ##d(\cos)## integral is actually from 1 to -1. And this brings me to ##sin(qr) / qr##.
 
Last edited:
Mind = blown
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
64
Views
6K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K