Lec20-21 - Compressed SCATTER PDF
Lec20-21 - Compressed SCATTER PDF
Lec20-21 - Compressed SCATTER PDF
Scattering theory
Scattering theory
Scattering theory is important as it underpins one of the most ubiquitous
tools in physics.
Almost everything we know about nuclear and atomic physics has
been discovered by scattering experiments,
e.g. Rutherfords discovery of the nucleus, the discovery of
sub-atomic particles (such as quarks), etc.
In low energy physics, scattering phenomena provide the standard
tool to explore solid state systems,
e.g. neutron, electron, x-ray scattering, etc.
As a general topic, it therefore remains central to any advanced
course on quantum mechanics.
In these two lectures, we will focus on the general methodology
leaving applications to subsequent courses.
A+B
elastic
A + B
A + B
inelastic
A
+
B
+
C
C
absorption
&
d
d =
d
&
&
d
d sin
d
' '
d()
N
b '' db ''
=
d
jI
sin ' d '
d
d d
= R 2 ,
V (r ) =
r
particle follows hyperbolic trajectory.
In this case, a straightforward calculation
obtains the Rutherford formula:
' '
2
d
b '' db ''
1
=
=
d
sin ' d ' 16E 2 sin4 /2
!
!k
( ) =
2m
m
e ikr
ikr
= (r) %
i -
i (2) + 1)
i(kr $/2)
S$ (k)
i(kr $/2)
P$ (cos )
i(kr $/2)
i
e
e
(r) %
i $ (2) + 1)
S$ (k)
P$ (cos )
2k
r
r
$=0
ikr
e
If we set, (r) % e ikr + f ()
r
f () =
$=0
where f$ (k) =
S$ (k) 1
define partial wave scattering amplitudes.
2ik
i.e. f$ (k) are defined by phase shifts, $ (k), where S$ (k) = e 2i! (k) .
But how are phase shifts related to cross section?
(r) % e
ikr
e ikr
+ f ()
r
j = i
d
i.e.
= |f ()|2
d
!k
m,
f () =
$=0
d
d ,
&
d =
&
&
|f ()|2 d
4
With orthogonality relation, d P$ (cos )P (cos ) =
$$! ,
2) + 1
&
tot =
(2) + 1)(2)$ + 1)f$ (k)f$! (k) dP$ (cos )P$! (cos )
$,$!
12
3
0
= 4
$!
4!!! /(2$+1)
f () =
$=0
1 2i! (k)
e i! (k)
Making use of the relation f$ (k) =
(e
1) =
sin $ ,
2ik
k
tot
4 = 2
(2) + 1) sin2 $ (k)
k
$=0
Im f (0) =
k
tot
4
e i! (k)
$ (2) + 1) k
sin $ ,
One may show that this sum rule, known as optical theorem,
encapsulates particle conservation.
$=0
e i!
k
R$ (r )P$ (cos )
$=0
R$ (r )P$ (cos )
$=0
p
!2 k 2
+ V (r ) (r) = E (r),
E=
2m
2m
separability of (r) leads to radial equation,
+
(
)
,
2
2 2
!
2
)()
+
1)
!
k
2
r + r
+ V (r ) R$ (r ) =
R$ (r )
2m
r
r2
2m
Rearranging equation, we obtain the radial equation,
+
,
2
)() + 1)
2
r2 + r
U(r
)
+
k
R$ (r ) = 0
2
r
r
where U(r ) = 2mV (r )/!2 represents effective potential.
U(r
)
+
k
R$ (r ) = 0
2
r
r
Providing potential sufficiently short-ranged, scattering wavefunction
involves superposition of incoming and outgoing spherical waves,
( i(kr $/2)
)
i(kr $/2
i
e
)
$
2i! (k) e
R$ (r ) %
i (2) + 1)
e
2k
r
r
$=0
1 i0 (k)
R0 (r ) % e
sin(kr + 0 (k))
kr
However, at low energy, kR ' 1, where R is typical range of
potential, s-wave channel () = 0) dominates.
Here, with u(r ) = rR0 (r ), radial equation becomes,
5 2
6
2
r U(r ) + k u(r ) = 0
4 2
(ka0 )2
k0 4
2
= 2 sin 0 (k) % 2
%
4a
0
k
k 1 + (ka0 )2
U(r ) =
0
1
tan 0
k0 k
a0 = lim
r <R
r >R
0 = kR
e ikR
k
sin2 (kR)
2
% 4
%
4R
k2
5 2
6
2
r U(r ) + k u(r ) = 0
As a proxy for scattering from a binding potential, let us consider
quantum particles incident upon an attractive square well potential,
U(r ) = U0 (R r ), where U0 > 0.
Once again, focussing on low energies, kR ' 1, this translates to
the radial potential,
5 2
6
2
r + U0 (R r ) + k u(r ) = 0
CK cos(KR) = k cos(kR + 0 )
K cot(KR) = k cot(kR + 0 )
k tan(KR) K tan(kR)
,
K + k tan(kR) tan(KR)
K 2 = k 2 + U0
1/2
)
tan(KR)
1
KR
a0 = lim
)
tan(KR)
1
KR
)
tan(KR)
1
KR
4 2
% 2 sin 0 (k) % 4R 2
k
)2
tan(KR)
1 ,
KR
1/2
K % U0
)
tan(KR)
1 ,
KR
1/2
K % U0
In fact, when KR = /2, the attractive square well just meets the
criterion to host a single s-wave bound state.
At this value, there is a zero energy resonance leading to the
divergence of the scattering length, and with it, the cross section
the influence of the target becomes effectively infinite in range.
When KR = 3/2, the potential becomes capable of hosting a
second bound state, and there is another resonance, and so on.
When KR = n, the scattering cross section vanishes identically and
the target becomes invisible the Ramsauer-Townsend effect.
Resonances
More generally, the )-th partial cross-section
4
1
$ = 2 (2) + 1)
,
k
1 + cot2 $ (k)
tot =
Resonances
$=0
where f$ (k) =
e i!
k
tot
4 = 2
(2) + 1) sin2 $ (k)
k
$=0
The individual scattering phase shifts can then be obtained from the
solutions to the radial scattering equation,
+
,
2
)() + 1)
2
r2 + r
U(r
)
+
k
R$ (r ) = 0
2
r
r
Although this methodology is straightforward, when the energy of
incident particles is high (or the potential weak), many partial waves
contribute.
In this case, it is convenient to switch to a different formalism, the
Born approximation.
Lecture 21
Scattering theory:
Born perturbation series expansion
Recap
Previously, we have seen that the properties of a scattering system,
+ 2
,
p
!2 k 2
+ V (r ) (r) =
(r)
2m
2m
are encoded in the scattering amplitude, f (, ), where
(r) % e
ikr
e ikr
+ f (, )
r
Lippmann-Schwinger equation
Returning to Schrodinger equation for scattering wavefunction,
8 2
9
2
+ k (r) = U(r)(r)
with V (r) =
!2 U(r)
2m ,
(r) = (r) +
8
where + k
&
(r) = 0 and + k
G0 (r, r$ ) = d (r r$ ).
G0 (r, r$ ) =
ik|rr! |
1 e
4 |r r$ |
Lippmann-Schwinger equation
Together, leads to Lippmann-Schwinger equation:
k (r) = e ikr
1
4
&
d 3r $
ik|rr! |
e
$
$
U(r
)
(r
)
k
$
|r r |
r r $ + ,
In far-field, |r r$ | % r e
ik|rr! |
e ikr ik! r!
e
%
e
$
|r r |
r
where k$ k
er .
ikr
&
3 $
d r e
ik! r!
1
U(r )k (r ) )k! |U|k *
4
$
Lippmann-Schwinger equation
1
f (, ) =
4
&
3 $
d r e
ik! r!
1
U(r )k (r ) )k! |U|k *
4
$
!2 U(r)
2m ,
Born approximation
(r) = (r) +
&
()
and so on.
n=0
0 U)
n |k *
(G
Born approximation
0 U|
k* + G
0 U
G
0 U|
k* + =
|k * = |k * + G
n=0
0 U)
n |k *
(G
1
Then, making use of the identity f (, ) = 4
)k! |U|k *,
scattering amplitude expressed as Born series expansion
f =
1
)k! |U + UG0 U + UG0 UG0 U + |k *
4
Born approximation
f =
1
)k! |U + UG0 U + UG0 UG0 U + |k *
4
fBorn =
1
)k! |U|k *
4
0
where, noting that |k$ | = |k|, = 2k sin(/2).
+ 2
0
Therefore, for , we obtain
2
d
U
0
= |f ()|2 =
d
16k 4 sin4 /2
2
=
|)f|V |i*|2 (! (Ef Ei ))
!
- 2
2 $
|)k$ |V |k*|2 (Ek Ek! ) =
|)k |V |k*|2 g (Ek )
=
!
!
!
k d
where g (Ek ) =
!2 k 2
Ek = 2m .
k!
(Ek Ek ! ) =
dn
dE
kk!
2 $
=
|)k |V |k*|2 g (Ek )
!
With
dn dk
k 2 d
1
g (Ek ) =
=
dk dE
(2/L)3 !2 k/m
and incident flux jI = !k/m, the differential cross section,
d
1 kk!
1
$ 2mV
2
= 3
=
|)k
|
|k*|
d
L
jI
(4)2
!2
At first order, Born approximation and Golden rule coincide.
ikz
+e
ikz
e ikr
+ (f () + f ( ))
r
ik(rRi )
e ik|rRi |
+f
|r Ri |
,
+
ikr
!
e
e ikr + fe i(k k)Ri
r
= k$ k
$=0
where f$ (k) =
e i!
k
tot
4 = 2
(2) + 1) sin2 $ (k)
k
$=0
The individual scattering phase shifts can then be obtained from the
solutions to the radial scattering equation,
+
,
2
)() + 1)
2
r2 + r
U(r
)
+
k
R$ (r ) = 0
2
r
r
Although this methodology is straightforward, when the energy of
incident particles is high (or the potential weak), many partial waves
contribute.
In this case, it is convenient to switch to a different formalism, the
Born approximation.
1
4
&
d 3r $
ik|rr! |
e
$
$
U(r
)
(r
)
k
$
|r r |