Why Is My Electron-Positron Scattering Cross Section Calculation Incorrect?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
Muh. Fauzi M.
Messages
17
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


I have a problem in calculating cross-section in elektron-positron -> muon-antimuon scattering.

Homework Equations


In the relativistic limit, we find the differential cross-section of {e}+{e^-} -> {μ}+{μ^-} is

\frac{d\sigma}{d\Omega}=\frac{\alpha^2}{4s}*(1+cos^2{\theta}).

When I integrating over \theta, i get an answer:

\sigma=\frac{3*\pi*\alpha^2}{8*s},

but that is not the correct answer. Due to my reference (Halzen and Martin), the answer should be

\sigma=\frac{4*\pi*\alpha^2}{3*s}.

The Attempt at a Solution


Can someone help me through this problem? My intuition said I have mistaken the integration. But I've tried to re-integral-ing it, still not come up with correct solution.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Muh. Fauzi M. said:

Homework Statement


I have a problem in calculating cross-section in electron-positron -> muon-antimuon scattering.

Homework Equations


In the relativistic limit, we find the differential cross-section of ##\ \ {e}^+{e^-} -> {μ}^+{μ^-}## is
$$\frac{d\sigma}{d\Omega}=\frac{\alpha^2}{4s}\left (1+cos^2{\theta}\right ) \ .$$
When I integrate over ##\theta##, I get an answer:
$$\sigma=\frac{3\pi\alpha^2}{8s}\ ,$$
but that is not the correct answer. Due to my reference (Halzen and Martin), the answer should be
$$\sigma=\frac{4\pi\alpha^2}{3s}\; .$$

The Attempt at a Solution


Can someone help me through this problem? My intuition sais I have mistaken the integration. But I've tried to re-integrate it, still not come up with correct solution.
Hello,

Is ##d\Omega## just ##d\theta## or has ##\phi## something to do with it too ?

Anyway, show your steps in detail, please. That makaes it easier to follow and point out where things may go wrong...
 

BvU said:
Hello,

Is ##d\Omega## just ##d\theta## or has ##\phi## something to do with it too ?

Anyway, show your steps in detail, please. That makaes it easier to follow and point out where things may go wrong...

Hello Mr., thank you for your respond.

In my first reference (Halzen and Martin), the instructor is to integrate over ##\theta## and ##\phi##. Here is my doodling:

$$ \sigma = \frac{\alpha^2}{4s}\int{(1+cos^2{\theta})}d\theta d\phi $$

Substituting the trigonometry identity,

$$ \sigma = \frac{\alpha^2}{4s} \int {\frac{(3+cos{2\theta})}{2}} d\theta d\phi $$.

Dividing the integration,

$$ \int 3 d\theta d\phi , \quad \int {cos{2\theta}}d\theta d\phi $$

and integrating from ## 0 ## to ## \pi ## for ##\theta##, ##0## to ##2\pi## fpr ##\phi##. The second term is vanish, so I have

$$ \int 3 d\theta d\phi=3(\pi)(2\pi)$$.

Thus, when inserting to ## \sigma ##, I have

$$ \sigma = \frac{3\pi^2\alpha^2}{4s} $$.

Using my second ref (Schwartz), the integration just applied over ##\theta## and I get

$$ \sigma = \frac{3\pi\alpha^2}{8s}$$.

Which step do I miss?
 
If I remember well, ##d\Omega \ne d\phi d\theta ## because then you would end up with ##2\pi^2## where you expect ##4\pi## . Wasn't it ##d\Omega = \sin\theta \;d\theta d\phi ## ?
 
BvU said:
If I remember well, ##d\Omega \ne d\phi d\theta ## because then you would end up with ##2\pi^2## where you expect ##4\pi## . Wasn't it ##d\Omega = \sin\theta \;d\theta d\phi ## ?
Speechless. That's true Mr. Thank you very much. (shy)