1.2.

DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTION

February 9, 2015
Lecture VIII

1.2 Differential cross section

We found that the solution to the Schrodinger equation has the form
 ikr 
1 e 0 ik·x
hx | ψi ∼ f (k , k) + e
(2π)3/2 r

and that
4π 2 m
Z
f (k0 , k) = d3 x0 hk 0 | x0 iV (x0 )hx0 | ψi (1.1)
~2
Not really much good since we need the solution to do the calculation, but we do learn something
1
about the form. We have been sloppy about normalization. Multiply by V − 2 where V is volume of
space. Then if the plane wave represents the incoming flux, we have incident flux v/V = ~k/mV .
The flux scattered radially outward is
v |f (k, k 0 )|2
.
V r2
Let dṄ be the number of particles scattered outward per unit time into the solid angle dΩ.

v |f (k, k 0 )|2 2
dṄ = r dΩ (1.2)
V r2
The differential cross section
dσ dṄ
= = |f (k, k 0 )|2 (1.3)
dΩ Inc Flux

1.2.1 Probability current

The scattered particle probability flux is
~
j = Im(ψ ∗ ∇ψ)
m
1 f ∗ −ikr
 ikr
eikr eikr
 
~ e
∼ Im e ik f− 2 f+ ∇f
m 8π 3 r r r r

At large r, all terms fall off faster than 1/r2 except the first. Note that ∇f will involve angular
derivatives that all have 1/r and then derivatives with respect to θ and φ. So very far away,

1 f ∗ −ikr
  ikr 
~ e
j ∼ Im e ik f
m 8π 3 r r
~ k|f 2 |
∼
m 8π 3 r2

1
1.2. DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTION

The flux into the detector with area r2 dΩ will be Fdet = jr2 dΩ. The total incoming flux is
jinc = k (2π)~3 m . Then the rate of scattering into solid angle dΩ is

dσ j 2 r2
R = Finc dσ = jscat r2 dΩ → = = |f |2
dΩ jinc
That’s all well and good. But, probability is conserved. So j for the entire wave function ψ
integrated over the entire sphere must be zero.

2
1.3. BORN APPROXIMATION

1.3 Born approximation

We have an integral equation for the scattering amplitude but it is of limited valued since it includes
the solution to Schrodinger’s equation. The first order Born approximation is pretty simple. We
assume that the potential is very weak and that the exact solution is not very different from the
free particle state. Then we get

4π 2 m
Z
f 1 (k 0 , k) = − 2 d3 x0 hk 0 | x0 iV (x0 )hx0 | ki
~
0 0
4π 2 m ei(k−k )·x
Z
= − 2 d3 x0 V (x0 ) (1.4)
~ (2π)3

Here, k, k0 are in the direction of the incoming plane wave and the scattered wave respectively.
Define |q| = |k − k0 | = 2k sin θ/2 where θ is the scattering angle.
Then we can perform the angular integral if we assume that V is spherically symmetric.
0
4π 2 m eiq·x
Z
f 1 (k 0 , k) = − d3 x0 V (x0 ) (1.5)
~2 (2π)3
0
4π 2 m eiqr cos θ
Z
2 0
= − 2 r dr2π(. cos θ ) V (r) (1.6)
~ (2π)3
iqr cos θ 0
4π 2 m
Z
2 0 e
= − r dr2π(
. cos θ ) V (r) (1.7)
~2 (2π)3
4π 2 m eiqr − e−iqr
Z 2
r
= − 2
dr2π V (r) (1.8)
iq~ r (2π)3
Z
m
= − 2 rdr(eiqr − e−iqr )V (r) (1.9)
iq~
Z
2m
= − 2 rdr sin(qr)V (r) (1.10)
q~

Yukawa potential
Consider the Yukawa potential
V0 e−µr
V (r) =
µr
which reduces to the Coulomb potential with µ → 0 with V0 /µ fixed. Substitution and integration
gives
 
1 2mV0 1
f (θ) = − 2
µ~ q + µ2
2
 
2mV0 1
= − 2 2
µ~ 4k sin (θ/2) + µ2
2

Note that for the first order Born approximation, the scattering cross section is always indepen-
dent of the sign of V (r), and the scattering amplitude is always real

3
1.3. BORN APPROXIMATION

1.3.1 Higher Order Born Approximation and transition operator T

We would like to have an operator that effects a transition from a plane wave intial state to a plane
wave final state. Let’s revisit the Schrodinger equation for the plane wave.
H0 | φi = E| φi
(H − V )| φi = E| φi
(E − H)| φi = −V | φi (1.11)
1
| φi = − V | φi + | ψ ± i (1.12)
E − H ± i
where (E − H)| ψ ± i = 0. Solve Equation ?? for
 
1
| ψ± i = 1 + V | φi
E − H ± i
and  
1
V | ψ± i = V +V V | φi
E − H ± i
Then the transition operator
 
1
T = V +V V | φi
E − H ± i
T | φ(k)i = V | ψi (1.13)
where | φ(k)i is a plane wave with momentum k, and | ψi is a solution to Schrodinger’s equation.
The differential cross section
4π 2 m
f (k0 , k) = − hφ(k0 ) | T | φ(ki
~2

1.3.2 Born approximation again

Multiplying (Lippmann-Schwinger) Equation by V gives
1
T | φi = V T | φi + V | φi
E − H0
Assuming that latter is true for a complete set of base states, it must be a legitimate operator
equation.
1
T =V T +V (1.14)
E − H0 + i
On iteration we get something like
 
1 1
T = V +V V +V T
E − H0 + i E − H0 + i
  
1 1 1
→ V +V V +V V +V T
E − H0 + i E − H0 + i E − H0 + i
1 1 1
= V +V V +V V V + ...
E − H0 + i E − H0 + i E − H0 + i

4
1.3. BORN APPROXIMATION

and so on. The scattering amplitude

4π 2 m 0
f (k0 , k) = − hk | V | ψi (1.15)
~2
becomes
4π 2 m 0
f (k0 , k) = −
hk | T | ki (1.16)
~2
The momentum eigneket | ki is scattered to definite momentum plane wave state | k0 i.
Then
4π 2 m
Z
0 0 0
f 1 (k0 , k) = − 3 2
d3 x0 e−ik ·x V (x0 )eix ·k (1.17)
(2π) ~
Next order
4π 2 m
Z Z
0 0 2m 00
f 2 (k0 , k) = − d3 x0 d3 x00 e−ik ·x V (x0 ) G(x0 , x00 )V (x00 )eix ·k (1.18)
(2π)3 ~2 ~2

5
1.4. CURRENTS AND OPTICAL THEOREM

1.4 Currents and optical theorem

ψ = ψ 0 + ψs (1.19)
ψ 0 represents the incoming free particle and is a solution to
∂
H 0 ψ 0 = i~ ψ0
∂t
2
p ∂
where H0 = 2m . Then Hψ = i~ ∂t ψ where H = H 0 + V and
The flux of scattered particles into area element da is
~
js · n̂da = Im(ψs∗ ∇ψs ) · n̂da
m
k ~ |f |2 2
= r dΩ
8π 3 m r2
The flux of incoming particles is
~ k ~
jinc = Im(ψ0∗ ∇ψ0 ) = (1.20)
m 8π 3 m
The differential cross section is
dσ jscat · n̂da
= = |f |2 (1.21)
dΩ jinc
Then along with the divergence theorem,

8π 3 m 8π 3 m
Z Z
σt = js · n̂da = ∇ · js dv
~k ~k
By the continuity equation
Z Z
∂
∇ · js dv = |ψs |2 dv
∂t
Altogether we find that
Z
m ∂
σt = |ψs |2 dv
~k ∂t
Substituting Equation 1.1 we have

8π 3 m ∂
Z
dv |ψ0 |2 + |ψ|2 − 2<ψ0∗ ψ


σt =
~k ∂t
 ∗
8π 3 m ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∗
Z 
∂ψ0 ∂ψ0 ∂ψ ∂ψ
= dv ψ0 + ψ0∗ + ψ + ψ∗ − 2<( 0 ψ + ψ0∗ )
~k ∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t
8π 3 m
Z
i
= −2 < dv(−H0 ψ0∗ ψ + ψ0∗ (H0 + V )ψ)
~k ~
8π 3 m
Z
i
= −2 < dv(ψ0∗ V ψ)
~k ~

6
1.4. CURRENTS AND OPTICAL THEOREM

8π 3 m 2
= Im hk | V | ψi
~k ~
8π 3 m 2 ~2
= Im f (0)
~k ~ 4π 2 m
4π
= Im f (0)
k

The total cross section is proportional to the imaginary part of the forward scattering amplitude.
The flux of scattered particles is balanced by the imaginary part of the forward amplitude, the
shadow.
There is another way: The total wave function

eikr
ψinc + ψscat = eikz + f (θ) (1.22)
r
The flux density is
~
Im(ψ ∗ ∇ψ)
j= (1.23)
m
The total flux density in the radial direction is

e−ikr 1 eikr
 
~
jr = Im (e−ikz + f ∗ )(ik cos θeikr cos θ + (ikf − 2 ) )r̂
m r r r

Since we are interested in r → ∞, only the first and two terms in the second brackets will remain.
Then
e−ikr eikr
 
~
jr = Im (e−ikz + f ∗ )(ik cos θeikr cos θ + ikf ) r̂
m r r

The interference term is

~ ik  −ikr(cos θ−1) 
jrint = Im e f + f ∗ e−ikr(1−cos θ cos θ r̂]
m r

Next integrate jrint over a tiny cone in the forward direction to show
Z  
~k 4π
jrint r2 dΩ = − Imf (0) (1.24)
forward cone m k

Z Z β
~rk
jrint r2 dΩ = 2π Imi(e−ikr(cos θ−1) f + cos θf ∗ e−ikr(1−cos θ )d(cos θ)
forward cone m 0
~rk β
Z
∼ 2π Imi(eikr e−ikr cos θ f + f ∗ e−ikr eikr cos θ )d(cos θ)
m 0
~rk eikr −ikr cos θ e−ikr ikr cos θ β
= 2π Imi( e f + f∗ e ) |0
m −ikr ikr

7
1.4. CURRENTS AND OPTICAL THEOREM

~rk eikr −ikr cos β e−ikr ikr cos β

= 2π Imi( (e − 1)f + f ∗ (e − 1))
m −ikr ikr
~rk 1 1
= 2π Im( (e−ikr(cos β−1) − eikr )f + f ∗ (eikr(cos β−1) − e−ikr ))
m −kr kr

As long as θ 6= 0, the average of jrint over any small solid angle is zero because r → ∞. (Assume
f (θ) is a smooth function.)
In the limit β → 0, and as r → ∞, we use the average value for e±irk , namely zero, we get
Z
~k 1 1
jrint r2 dΩ = 2π rIm( (1)f + f ∗ (1))
forward cone m −kr kr
~k 1
= 2π Im(f ∗ − f )
mk
~k 1
= −4π Imf (0)
mk
~k 1
= −4π Imf (0)]
mk

In evaluating the upper limit in the θ integration, assume that the limit of a function that
oscillates as its argument approaches infinity is equal to its average value.
The total probability current in the region behind the target produces a depletion of particles.
It must be that the product of the incident flux and the total cross section is equivalent to hwat is
depleted in the forward direction. Therefore
Z
~k 1 ~k
jrint r2 dΩ = −4π Imf (0) = σt
f orward m k m
4π
→ σt = Imf (0)
k

1.4.1 Optical Theorem

We begin with the basic Lippmann/Schwinger equation
1
| ψ ± i = | φi + V | ψ± i (1.25)
E − H0 ± i
The scattering amplitude is
4π 2 m
f (k, k0 ) = − hφ(k) | T | φ(k0 )i (1.26)
~2
where T | φi = V | ψ ± i by definition. Then
 
1
f (k, k0 ) = hψ ± | − hψ ± |V V | ψ± i
E − H0 ± i
1
= hψ ± |V | ψ ± i − hψ ± |V V | ψ± i
E − H0 ± i

8
1.4. CURRENTS AND OPTICAL THEOREM

The imaginary part of the forward scattering amplitude is

8π 3 2m
Imf (k, k) = − hk | T | ki
4π ~2
8π 3 2m
Z Z
1
Imf (k, k) = −Im 2
hφ(k) |T | φk0 ihφk0 | | φk00 ihφk00 |T | φ(k)id3 k 0 d3 k 00
4π ~ E − H0 ± i
8π 3 2m 2m
Z
1
Imf (k, k) = −Im d3 k 0 hφ(k) |T | φk0 i 00 2 hφk0 |T | φ(k)i
4π ~ ~2 2
k − k 0 2 ± i
8π 3 2m 2m
Z
2 1
= −Im dk 0 k 0 dΩhφ(k) |T | φk0 i 00 2 hφk0 |T | φ(k)i
4π ~ ~2 2
k − k 0 2 ± i
8π 3 2m 2m
Z
2 1
= −Im dk 0 k 0 dΩhφ(k) |T | φk0 i hφk0 |T | φ(k)i
4π ~2 ~2
q q
(k 00 1 ± i + k 0 )(k 00 1 ± i − k 0 )
k00 2 k002
3 Z
8π 2m 2m 2 1
∼ −Im dk 0 k 0 dΩhφ(k) |T | φk0 i 00 hφk0 |T | φ(k)i
4π ~2 ~2 (k ± i + k 0 )(k 00 ± i − k 0 ))
1 8π 3 8π 3 2m 2m
Z
2 1
∼ −Imiπ 2 k 00 dΩhφ(k) |T | φk00 i 00 hφk00 |T | φ(k)i
2π 4π 4π ~2 ~2 2k
ik 00
Z
∼ −Im dΩf ∗ (k, k00 )f (k00 , k)
4π
k 00
∼ − σt
4π

Shadowing
We write the solution to Schrodinger’s equation as ψ + as the sum of an incoming plane wave that
extends over all space, and an outgoing spherical wave with angular distribution represented as
f (θ). Consider scattering from a hard sphere. The forward direction along the axis of the incoming
wave is shadowed. In that region the probability density |ψ + |2 = 0. There must be destructive
interference between the incoming plane wave and the scattering amplitude in the forward direction.
So the scattering amplitude in the forward direction cannot be zero.
More generally we write
4π
σtot = Imfelastic (0) (1.27)
k
Only states scattered elastically in the forward direction will have the same energy as the incident
state, which is required if there is to be destructive interference. Also the depletion of the forward
flux must account for all scattered states elastic or inelastic.