Quantum Mechanical Scattering Theory

Introduction

Incident Flux of particles with mass m1 on a target of particles with mass m2, measured at detector D in a solid angle dΩ.

(1)+(2)(1)+(2) thus momentum and energy is exchanged.

Elastic Scattering: Internal states of particles (1) and (2) do not change on collision. I.e. an electron and an atom in the ground state keeps the atom in the ground state.

Start without considering any spin for the particles and that the target is thin, i.e. only a single scattering event. Neglect coherent effects (interference between scattered waves). The interactions are by central potentials, V(|r1r2|)=V(r)μ=m1m2m1+m2 scattering of relative particle.

Differential Cross Section

ςσ(θ,φ)dσdΩ=dnFidΩ where dn is the number of detected particles by the decter per unit time and Fi is the incident flux: number of particles per time per area.

Total cross section: σtot=σ(θ,φ)dΩ

Stationary Scattering States

V(r)1rn where n>1 so the potential is well localized.

Note that our energy is well defined to be 2κ22μ.

[22μ2+V(r)E]Ψ(r)=0. Let v(r)=2μ2. So, [2+κ2v(r)]Ψκ(r)=0. Ψκ are stationary scattering states with the associated energy Eκ.

Assume collision occurs at time 0. And for t<0, φκ(r;t<0)exp(iκz). For t0, φκexp(iκz)+fκ(θ,φ)exp(iκr)r, where we have a scattering amplitude fκ(θ,φ) also written fκ(κ,κ).

Want a relationship between fκς.

The current is then, J(r)=i2μ(φκφκφκφκ)

Jiz:φκexp(iκz)

Else, Ji=i2μ(exp(iκz)iκexp(iκz)exp(iκz)(iκ)exp(iκz))=κμ.

Integral Scattering Equation

[2+κ2v(r)]Ψκ(r)=0. φκexp(iκz)+fκ(θ,φ)exp(iκr)r. J(r)=i2μ(φκφκφκφκ)=μ{ϕkϕk}. Jiz:φκexp(iκz),Ji=κμ.

JSC(r)φkfκ(θ,φ)exp(iκr)r.

Jscr^=i2μ(exp(iκr)rr(exp(iκr)r)exp(iκr)rr(exp(iκr)r))(1)=kμ1r2|fκ(θ,φ)|2Jscθ^=i2μ(exp(iκr)rfk1rexp(iκr)rfκθexp(iκr)r1rexp(iκr)rfκfκθ)(2)=μ1r3{fκfκθ}(3)Jscφ^=μ1r3sinθ{fκfκφ}.

Note that since we are far away, the radial component is the most important scattering current contribution.

dn=FiςdΩ=FSCdS.

Fi=C|Ji|=Cκμ.

So,

dn=FSCdS=CJSCr^(r2Ω)=FiμkJSCr^r2dΩ=Fiμk(kμ1r2|fκ(θ,φ)|2)r2dΩ=Fi|fκ(θ,φ)|2dΩ.ς=σ(θ,φ)=|fκ(θ,φ)|2.

Then, [2+κ2v(r)]Ψκ(r)=0 can be solved with the Method of Green’s Function. C.f. r2Φ=r2G(rr)ρ(r)d3r=4πρ solves 2Φ=4πp. We have (2+κ2)G(r)=δ(3)(r). So, φκ(r)=φ0(r)+G(rr)v(r)φκ(r)d3r.

Using Fourier methods we would arrive at, G±(r)=14πexp(±iκr)r.

Since φκexp(iκz)+fκ(θ,φ)exp(iκr)r, we choose G+(r) and find, φκ(r)=exp(iκz)14πexp(iκ|rr|)|rr|v(r)fκ(θ,φ)exp(iκr)rd3r. Note that |r||rr| so |rr|2=r2+r22rrcosαr22rrcosα=r2(12rrcosα). Then, |rr|r(1rrcosα)=rrcosα=rru^

From the worksheet, we find fκ(θ,φ)=14πexp(iκu^r)v(r)φk(r)d3r. Let k=kdki, kd=κu^ is the detected wave. This is called the scattered/transferred wave vector.

Recall the dyson series, now we can see, φκ(r)=exp(ikir)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)φk(r). Doing this insertion multiple times, like we did with the Dyson series,

φκ(r)=exp(ikir)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)(exp(ikir)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)φκ(r))=exp(ikir)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)(exp(ikir))(4)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)(d3rG+(rr)v(r)φκ(r))

This is called the Born Expansion, when you stop with the first term. It is valid when future terms are smaller than the previous ones. Hence the series terms are monotomically decreasing after a certain point.

So,

(5)φκ(r)exp(ikir)+d3rG+(rr)v(r)(exp(ikir))

Then, fκ(B)=14πexp(iκu^r)v(r)exp(ikir)d3r=14πexp(ikr)v(r)d3r where kkdki.

Then, ς(b)σ(B)(θ,φ)=|fκ(θ,φ)|2=μ24π22|d3rexp(ikr)V(r)|2.

Example: V(r)=Ar2. Then,

d3rexp(ikrcosθ)r2=drr2dΩexp(ikrcosθ)r2=drdΩexp(ikrcosθ)=drd(cosθ)dφexp(ikrcosθ)=2πdrd(cosθ)exp(ikrcosθ)=2πdrexp(ikr)exp(ikr)ikr=4π0drsinkrikrfκ(B)=πμAk2=πμAki2+kd22kikdcosθ)2=πμA2k2(1cosθ)2(6)=πμA2ksinθ22.(7)ς(B)=π2μ2A244k2sin2θ2.

This approximation then works better for higher energy since the perturbative series would be smaller, and thus more like a perturbation. Also, ’small’ A.

Method of Partial Waves

From before, we had the CSCO: {H,L2,Lz}.

For a central potential, H=H0+V(r), H|km=E|km, L2|km=2(+1)|km, Lz|km=m|km.

For waves, we have E=2k22μ. Our wavefunction is then Ψk,m=uk,rYm. The radial wave function is then, (22μd2dr2+2(+1)2μr2+V(r))uk,=2k22μ, (22μd2dr2+Veff(r))uk,=2k22μ.

Far away, we throw away Veff as it is well localized for V(r)1rn with n>1. This gives the waves, uk,(r)=A±exp(±ikr). Note that A is the incident and A+ is the scattered wave. Since we don’t lose any particles, no transmission or absorption, |A+|=|A|. So, uk,|A|(exp(ikr)exp(iφR)+exp(ikr)exp(iφI))=Csin(krβ) with β=π2φRφI2.

Then our asymptotic waves are then Ψk,,mCsin(krβ)rYm(θ,φ).

What if V=0. Ansatz: Our phase is going to be exactly opposite, ϕ=πϕ, which is the case for slow particles. Our solution from the spherical box, without the boundary conditions, Ψkm(0)(r)=2πkj(kr)Ym(θ,φ). The asymptotic limit gives Ψkm(0)(r)=2πsin(krπ2)rYm(θ,φ). Thus, β=π2. Compare with β=π2φRφI2 we see that the phase shift is then, φIφR=(1)π. Set β=π2+δ, where the δ is the phase shift of the partial wave.

Recall from before, φkexp(ikz)+fk(θ,φ)exp(ikr)r. The first term is the free wave, Ψkm(0). The whole thing is related to Ψkm.

Then, we want to find fk(θ,φ) in terms of δ to get σtot.

Note, exp(ikz)==0i4π(2+1)j(kr)y0(θ,φ)=cψk0(0)(r). Also, φkc~ψk,,0(r).

Then, we have Ψk,,mc~sin(krπ2+δ)rym and Ψk,,mcsin(krπ/2)rym note that c~=cexp(iδ).

Starting with

φkc~ψk0(r)=ri4π(2+1)y0exp(iδ)sin(krπ/2+δ)kr=i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)exp(iδ)exp(i(krπ/2))exp(iδ)exp(i(krπ/2))exp(iδ)2irk=i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)exp(i(krπ/2))exp(2iδ)exp(i(krπ/2))2irk=i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)exp(i(krπ/2))(1+2iexp(iδ)sinδ)exp(i(krπ/2))2irk=i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)(exp(i(krπ/2))exp(i(krπ/2))2irk+2iexp(iδ)sinδexp(i(krπ/2))exp(i(krπ/2))2irk)=i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)(sin(krπ/2)kr+2iexp(iδ)sinδexp(i(krπ/2))exp(i(krπ/2))2irk)=exp(ikz)+i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)(2iexp(iδ)sinδexp(i(krπ/2))exp(i(krπ/2))2irk)=exp(ikz)+i4π(2+1)Y0(θ)(i)kexp(iδ)sinδ(8)=exp(ikz)+4π(2+1)Y0(θ)1kexp(iδ)sinδ,(9)=exp(ikz)+exp(ikr)rfk(θ).

From before, φkmCexp(iδ)sin(krπ/2+δ)rYm(θ,φ). We found, f(θ,φ)=1k4π(2+1)Y0(θ)exp(iδ)sinδ.

Scattering off Hard Sphere

For r>r0,

(d2dr2+k2(+1)r2)uk,=0φk,,m=uk,(r)rYm(θ,φ).

We have,

(10)uk,(r)=kr(C~1j(kr)+C~2n(kr)).

Our boundary condition now is,

(11)φkm(r0)=0.

Then, C~1C~2=n(kr0)j(kr0).

At r, uk,C~1sin(krπ/2)+C~2cos(krπ/2)=C~1sin(krπ/2)C~1j(kr0)n(kr0)cos(krπ/2)

Note, sin(α+δ)=sinαcosδ+cosαsinδ.

Then, uk,C~1+C~2sin(krπ/2+δ) with tanδ=C~2C~1=j(kr0)n(kr0).

For =0, δ0=tan1j0(kr0)n0(kr0)=tan1sin(kr0)/kr0cos(kr0)/kr0=kr0.

For slow particles, kr01. For ρ0, jρ(2+1)!!,n(2+1)!!ρ+1.

Then for slow particles, δ=tan1((kr0)2+1((2+1)!!)2). Hence, the =0 term dominates. So, σtot4πk2sin2δ04πr02. Thus, the area of the sphere behaves as the cross section. Hence, the particle ’sees’ the entire area of the sphere. Also, we see that the cross section is dependent on the energy. Higher energy will see less cross section.

Classically, we would expect a cross section of πr2.

Collisions with Absorption

Identical Particles

Colliding two identical particles. Detector 1 is at an angle θ and detector 2 is at an angle πθ.

We then need to symmetrize/ antisymmetrize our wavefunctions. Then, φkexp(ikz)=fk(θ)exp(ikr)/r and z=|z1z2| and k=k|x1x2|. So, ΨS,Aexp(ikz)±exp(ikz)+(fk(θ)±f(πθ))exp(ikr)r.

Then the differential cross section is (dσdΩ)boson,fermion=|f(θ)|2+|f(πθ)|2±2[f(θ)f(πθ)]. The last term is the interference term between the identical particles. Classically we would have the first two terms.

For a spin-1/2 fermion, (dσdΩ)=34(dσdΩ)A+14(dσdΩ)S=34|f(θ)f(πθ)|2+14|f(θ)+f(πθ)|2=|f(θ)|2+|f(πθ)|2[f(θ)f(πθ)].

For θ=π2, (dσdΩ)Classical=2|f(π2)|2. For θ=π2, (dσdΩ)Spinlessboson=2|f(π2)|2+2Re[f(θ)f(πθ)|=4|f(π2)|. For θ=π2, (dσdΩ)Spin1/2=2|f(π2)|2Re[f(θ)f(πθ)|=|f(π2)|2.

For a spin-1 boson, (dσdΩ)=14(dσdΩ)A+34(dσdΩ)S=14|f(θ)f(πθ)|234|f(θ)+f(πθ)|2=|f(θ)|2+|f(πθ)|2+[f(θ)f(πθ)]

Example

Given two particles with a Colomb interaction. Ze, spinless.

We will consider the bosonic case (alpha) and the fermionic case (pp,ee).

(dσdΩ)=(γ2k)[1sin4θ2+1cos4θ2(+2,1)cos(2γln(tan(θ/2))sin2θ2cos2θ2].

Author: Christian Cunningham

Created: 2024-05-30 Thu 21:21

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