1

Scattering theory
Potential scattering
Basic Notions
1. A proton beam producing a current of 5 × 10−9 amps (amps=Amperes) is incident on
a target of copper. Assume the target thickness is such that the areal density is ρ =
0.2 mg/cm2 . The detector has an area of 0.5 cm2 , normal to the scattered beam, and
is 20 cm from the target. If 10 protons are counted by the detector every second at a
particular angle, calculate the differential cross section for protons scattering off copper
at that angle. Hints: the electric charge carried by a proton, e , is 1.602 × 10−19 C. The
mass of copper is 63.546 u. [Sol:∼ 0.14 b/steradian].

The stationary-state approach

The integral equation of potential scattering

2. By introducing the Green’s functions

Z+∞
1 κe i κr
G ϵ± (xx 0 ) = 2 dκ , (1)
4π i r κ2 − (k 2 ± i ϵ)
−∞

where r = |xx 0 |, ϵ << k 2 (with ϵ > 0), show that

1 e ±i kr
G ± (xx 0 ) = = lim G ϵ± (xx 0 ). (2)
4π r ϵ→0

The Born approximation

3. a) Calculate the differential cross section in the Born approximation for elastic scat-
tering of a spinless particle of mass m and linear momentum ħkk under the influ-
−r /R
ence of the potential V (r ) = V0 e r , known as the Yukawa potential. [Sol: (4m 2V02 /ħ4 )/[1/R 2 +
4k 2 sin2 (θ/2)]2 , k = |k
k |].
b) Calculate the total cross section. [Sol: (16πm 2V02 R 4 /ħ4 )/[1 + 8mE R 2 /ħ2 ].]
c) Find the relation between V0 and R so that the Born approximation is valid. [Sol:
[mV0 /(ħ2 k)][(1/4)[ln(1 + 4k 2 R 2 )]2 + (tan−1 (2kR))2 ]1/2 << 1]
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4. Find an expression, in the Born approximation, for the scattering amplitude due to
elastic scattering of a spinless particle of mass m and linear momentum ħkk off a po-
R∞ −µr
tential which is a superposition of Yukawa potentials, i.e., V (r ) = d µσ(µ) e r . [Sol:
M
R∞
f (θ) = −(2m/ħ2 ) d µσ(µ)/(K 2 + µ2 ), where K 2 = 4k 2 sin2 (θ/2), k = |k
k |].
M

5. Consider a spinless particle of mass m and linear momentum ħkk under the influence
of a potential V .

a) Study the possibility of applying the Born approximation to the spherical potential
½
−V0 , r < a,
well V (r ) = , where V0 > 0, a > 0.
0, r ≥ a
p
[Sol: (mV0 /(k 2 ħ2 )) sin2 (ka) + ka{ka − sin(2ka)} << 1, k = |kk |].
b) Calculate the differential cross section in the Born approximation.
[Sol: (2mV02 a 2 /(K 4 ħ4 ))[cos(K a) − sin(K a)/(K a)]2 ; K = 2k sin(θ/2), with θ being the
scattering angle of the particle].
2
c) Repeat item b) for the Gaussian potential V (r ) = V0 e −µr , µ > 0.
2
[Sol: (πm 2V02 /(4ħ4 µ3 ))e −K /(2µ) , K = 2k sin(θ/2)].

6. Find the differential and total cross sections in the Born approximation for the elastic
scattering of a spinless particle of mass m , linear momentum ħkk , which is initially trav-
eling along the z -axis, from a nonspherical, double-delta potential V (xx 0 ) = V0 δ(xx 0 −a ẑẑ)+
V0 δ(xx 0 + a ẑẑ), V0 > 0, where ẑ is the unit vector along the z -axis.
[Sol: (m 2V0 /(π2 ħ4 ))cos2 (2ak sin2 (θ/2)), m 2V0 /(πakħ4 ), where k = |kk | and θ is the scatter-
ing angle of the particle].

The method of partial waves

Partial-wave analysis

7. By using the corresponding scattering amplitude in the Born approximation, compute

the s -wave phase shift (l = 0) for a spinless particle of mass m and linear momentum
ħk
k under the influence of the potential
2 p
a) V (r ) = V0 e −µr , µ > 0. [Sol: (1/(2i ))ln[1−i (mV0 /(ħ2 k)) π/µ(1−exp(−k 2 /µ))], k = |kk |].
½
−V0 , r < a,
b) V (r ) = , where V0 > 0. [Sol: (2mV0 a 2 (ka)/ħ2 )(1 − sin(2ka)/(2ka))].
0, r ≥ a
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8. By considering a central potential and the asymptotic form

X
∞ sin(kr − l π/2 + δl ) 0 e i kr
ψk+ (xx 0 ) ∼ a l P l (cosθ) = e i kz + f (θ),
l =0 kr r

for the scattered wave function of a spinless particle of mass m , linear momentum ħkk
(k = |kk |), at the detection point x 0 [with spherical coordinates (r, θ, ϕ)], and
Z∞
1 0 00
f (θ) = − d 3 x 00 e −ikk ·xx U (xx 00 )ψk+ (x 00 ), (3)
4π
−∞

with (r 0 , θ 0 , ϕ0 ) being the spherical coordinates for x 00 and

X
∞ u l ,k (r 0 )
ψk+ (xx 00 ) = a l P l (cosθ 0 ) ,
l =0 r0

calculate the coefficients al and show that al = i l (2l + 1)e i δl .

Phase shifts, cross sections and optical theorem

9. Compute the phase shifts for elastic scattering of a particle of mass m and linear mo-
mentum ħkk by a potential V (r ) = V0 aδ(r −a). Hints: The radial part of the wave function
½
B l j l (kr ), r < a,
for such potential is given by R l ,k (r ) = , where k =
A l [cosδl j l (kr ) − sinδl n l (kr )], r > a,
|k
k |, B l and A l are normalization constants. This wave function is continuous at r = a , but
its derivative is discontinuous. Integrating the radial Schrödinger equation about r = a ,
h (2mV0 a 2 /ħ2 ) j l2 (ka)
i
1 d R l ,k (a+0) 1 d R l ,k (a−0) 2mV0 a
R (a+0) dr − R (a−0) dr = ħ2
. Sol: tan δ l = (2mV a 2 /ħ2 ) j (ka)n (ka)−1/(ka)
.
l ,k l ,k 0 l l

10. Consider the elastic scattering of a spinless particle of mass m from a hard sphere po-
tential: V (r ) = ∞ for r < a and V (r ) = 0 for r > a .
a) Calculate the total cross section in the low-energy limit. Find a numerical estimate
for the cross section for the case of scattering 5 keV protons from a hard sphere of
radius a = 6 fm. [Sol: ' 4πa 2 , 4.5 barn]
b) Calculate the total cross section in the high-energy limit. Find a numerical esti-
mate for the cross section for the case of 700 MeV protons with a = 6 fm. [Sol:
' 2πa 2 , 2.26 barn].

Hints: For l = 0, the solution of the radial Schrödinger equation for a hard sphere po-
tential is given by u(r ) = 0 for r < a and u(r ) = A sin(kr + δ0 ) for r > a , with A being a
normalization constant and k = |kk |. For a proton of mass m p , m p c 2 = 938.27 MeV and
P
n
ħc = 197.33 MeV· fm. You may need to use that (2l + 1) = (n + 1)2 .
l =0
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11. Consider elastic scattering of 50 MeV neutrons from a nucleus. The phase shifts mea-
sured in this experiment are δ0 = 95◦ , δ1 = 72◦ , δ2 = 60◦ , δ3 = 35◦ , δ4 = 18◦ , δ5 = 5◦ ; all
other phase shifts are negligible.

a) Find the total cross section. [Sol: 0.558 barn]

b) Estimate the radius of the nucleus. [Sol: 4.17 fm].

Use that for a neutron of mass m n , m n c 2 = 939.57 MeV; ħc = 197.33 MeV·fm.

12. Consider the elastic scattering of a spinless particle of mass m and linear momentum
ħk
k from a spherically symmetric potential. If d σ/d Ω is the differential cross section
and σ is the total cross section, show that
s ¯
4π d σ ¯¯
σ≤ .
k d Ω ¯θ=0

Verify this inequality explicitly for a general central potential using the partial-wave
expansion of the scattering amplitude and the cross section.

Scattering length and effective range

½
−V0 , r < a,
13. a) Given the potential V (r ) = , where V0 > 0, find the phase shift, effec-
0, r ≥ a
tive range and the scattering length for the s -wave (l = 0). Assume that V0 << 1,
i.e., we have a weak potential producing |δl | << 1 [Sol: C a/3, [C /3 − 6/(5α)]a , with
C = 2mV0 a 2 /ħ2 ].
b) Repeat item a) for the Yukawa potential V = −V0 e −µr /r , with V0 > 0, µ > 0. [Sol:
β/µ, (β − 1/β)/µ, with β = 2mV0 /(ħ2 µ2 )].

14. Show that the scattering amplitude for low energy s -waves may be written as
α
f0 = − ,
1 + i αk − αk 2 r eff /2

as well as in the form

1
f0 = ,
k cotδ0 − i k

where α is the scattering length and r eff is the effective range. Also verify that both
versions of the amplitude satisfy the optical theorem.
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15. The regular s -wave (l = 0) u(r ) ≡ u 0,k (r ) function for elastic scattering of a spinless par-
ticle of mass m and linear momentum ħkk by some central potential is

sin(kr ) b 2 − a 2 k sinh(br )cos(kr ) − b cosh(br )sin(kr )

u(r ) = + , (4)
k b2 + k 2 k[b cosh(br ) + a sinh(br )]

where a and b are some constants and k = |kk |.

a) Calculate the phase shift. [Sol: tanδ0 = k(b − a)/(k 2 + ab)].

b) Calculate the scattering length and the effective range. [Sol: 1/b − 1/a , 2/(b − a)].

Resonances

16. Consider a spinless particle of mass m , linear momentum ħkk , under the influence of
the potential shell of value V0 between r = a and r = b and zero otherwise. Calculate the
s -wave phase shift and show that for large V0 (with respect to what?) resonances occur
approximately at energies which would be bound states if V0 were infinite. Hints: For
l = 0, the radial wave function for this potential is given by R 0 (r ) = sin(kr )/kr if r < a ,
A sin(K r )/(K r ) − B cos(K r )/(K r ) if a < r < b and C sin(kr + δ0 )/(kr ) if r > b , where k = |k
k |,
2 2 2 2
E = ħ k /(2m), E − V0 = ħ K /(2m). Impose the continuity of the wave function and the
first derivative at r = a and of the logarithmic derivative at r = b . At energies corre-
sponding to a box extending from r = a to r = b we have that R 0 (a) = R 0 (b) = 0. [Sol:
V0 >> E ].

Inelastic scattering

17. Calculate the total cross section from a black disk of radius a at high energies. Compare
your answer with the classical value and discuss the results. Hint: assume the values
of l do not exceed a maximum value. [Sol: 2πa 2 ; πa 2 ].

18. In an experiment, 650 MeV π0 pions are scattered from a heavy, totally absorbing nu-
cleus of radius 1.4 fm.

a) Estimate the total elastic and total inelastic cross sections. [Sol: 0.40 barn each].
b) Calculate the scattering amplitude f (θ) and check the validity of the optical theo-
rem. [Sol: f (θ) = i /(2k)[1 + 3cosθ + (5/2)(3cos2 − 1) + (7/2)(5cos3 θ − 3cosθ)]].
c) Using the scattering amplitude found in b), calculate and plot the differential cross
section for elastic scattering. Calculate the total elastic cross section and verify that
it agrees with the expression found in a).
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Hint: the experiment can be viewed as a scattering of high-energy pions from a black
disk.

19. Show that, for a given σlinel , where l ħ is the orbital angular momentum related to the
P
∞
corresponding partial wave, i.e., σinel = σlinel , the elastic scattering cross section σlel ,
l =0
P
∞
where σel = σlel , is such that
l =0
q q q q q
σl0 − σl0 − σlinel ≤ σlel ≤ σl0 + σl0 + σlinel ,

where σl0 = π(2l + 1)/k 2 .

The time-dependent approach

20. A spinless particle of momentum ħkk is scattered by an harmonic time-dependent po-

tential V(xx 0 , t ) = V (xx 0 )cos(ωt ), where ω is the angular frequency of the oscillations. As-
sume that the perturbation turns on at t = 0.

a) Show that at first order in the time-dependent perturbation theory [i.e., calculate
c 1 (t )], the energy of the scattered particle is increased or decreased by ħω.
¯ +∞ ¯ p
¯ R 0 ¯2
b) Obtain d σ/d Ω. [Sol: [m 2 /(4π2 ħ4 k)][k+0 +k−0 ]¯ d 3 x 0V (xx 0 )e iKK ·xx ¯ , where k ±0 = k 2 ± 2mω/ħ,
−∞
k 0 ].
K = k −k

Hints: To calculate c 1 (t ), write cos(ωt ) as (e i ωt + e −i ωt )/2 and show that the only
appreciable contributions after long times come from ω f i ∓ ω = 0, with ω f i = (E f −
E i )/ħ or E f = E i ±ħω (you might find this calculation in several textbooks of quan-
tum mechanics in the time-dependent perturbation theory section). This means
k = |kk | 6= k 0 = |k
k 0 |. When calculating w i → f use the density ρ(E f ), where E f is written
in terms of k 0 , but when determining d σ/d Ω, use the incident flux I 0 written in
terms of k .

Formal scattering theory

The S -matrix in the time-independent formalism
−µr
21. In the equation T f i = 〈ϕ f |V |Ψ+i 〉, consider V to be a Yukawa potential V (r ) = −V0 e r
(V0 > 0, µ > 0) and consider |ϕ f 〉 to be a plane wave in the coordinate representation
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with momentum ħkk 0 . From the Lippmann-Schwinger equation, as first approxima-

tion, |Ψ+i 〉 can be considered to be a plane wave in the coordinate representation with
linear momentum ħkk , such that k = |kk | = k 0 = |kk 0 |. Calculate T f i . Using the relation be-
tween T f i and the scattering amplitude f , determine T f i from f (consider the Born ap-
proximation to calculate f ) and compare with the previous result. [Sol: 4πV0 /(K 2 + µ2 ),
K = |k
k −k k 0 |].

22. Show that, for the potential scattering of a particle, in which H0 = −(ħ2 /(2m))∇ ∇0 , V =
V (xx 0 ), E k = ħ2 k 2 /(2m), in the coordinate representation, the Lippmann-Schwinger equa-
tion
1
|Ψ+
k 〉 = |ϕk 〉 + lim V |Ψ+
k 〉,
ϵ→0 E k − H0 + i ϵ

leads to the integral equation for ψk+ (xx 0 ) which we obtained for potential scattering.
23. Consider a general Hamiltonian H0 +V , where H0 is the free-particle Hamiltonian. De-
fine a state |Ψ0a 〉 by the modified Lippmann-Schwinger equation
E a − H0
|Ψ0a 〉 = |ϕa 〉 + V |Ψ0a 〉,
(E a − H0 )2 + ϵ2
where |ϕa 〉 is an eigenstate of H0 with eigenvalue E a , and ϵ is a positive infinitesimal
quantity. Define
0
Tba = 〈ϕb |V |Ψ0a 〉.
0 0∗
a) Show that Tba = T ab for E a = E b .
b) For the simple case of elastic scattering of a non-relativistic particle with energy
ħ2k 2 /(2m) in a local potential V (xx ), calculate the asymptotic behavior of the wave
function in the coordinate representation, i.e, Ψk0 (xx 0 ) for |xx 0 | → ∞. Express the
·
0 p
result in terms of matrix elements of T . 0
Sol: e ikk ·xx − [ 2πm/(ħ2 r )][e i kr Tk00k +
¸
−i kr 0 k0 0
e T−k
k 0k
], k = k rˆ , k = |k
k |, r = |xx | . Hints: You will need to introduce complete
p 〉}, {|q
sets of momentum states {|p q 〉}, etc., in several steps, as well as of complete
R
+∞
sets of position states. Remember that d 3 x 0 〈k
k |xx 0 〉〈xx 0 |k
k 0 〉 = 〈k k 0 〉 = (2π)3 δ(k
k |k k 0 ),
k −k
−∞
0
with 〈xx 0 |kk 〉 = e ikk ·xx . You might need to perform some momentum integration us-
ing the residue theorem. You might need to consider the change of a momentum
integration variable p → −p to combine some integrals and that (k 2 − p 2 )2 + ϵ2 =
[k 2 − p 2 − i ϵ][k 2 − p 2 + i ϵ]. When considering large x , you will need to expand a
term like |xx 0 − x 00 | up to first order. You might need to relate integration of expo-
nential factors with Dirac delta functions following the integral expression written
above.
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24. Consider a separable interaction V , whose matrix elements between free-particle states
have the form

〈ϕb |V |ϕa 〉 = f (a) f ∗ (b), (5)

where f (a) is some general function of momenta and other quantum numbers charac-
terizing the free-particle state |ϕa 〉.

a) Find an exact solution of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for the in state in

this theory. Hints: Start with the Lippmann-Schwinger equation and insert a
P
complete set of states |ϕc 〉 in the second term, |ϕc 〉〈ϕc | = 1, where the sum rep-
c
resents summation over discrete variables and integration over continuous vari-
ables, and expand using the Lippmann-Schwinger equation again. You might
need to repeat this operation several times to get an infinite power series
· which
can be sum and obtain in this way an explicit expression for |Ψ+a 〉. Sol: |Ψ+a 〉 =
½ ¾Á½ ¾¸
P ∗ P 2
|ϕa 〉 + f (a) f (c)|ϕc 〉/(E a − E c + i ϵ) 1− | f (b)| /(E a − E b + i ϵ) .
c b
· Á½
∗
b) Use the result of (a) to calculate the T -matrix and the S -matrix. Sol: Tba = f (a) f (b) 1−
¾ ¸
P
| f (c)|2 /(E a − E c + i ϵ) , S ba = δba − 2πi δ(E a − E b )Tba .
c
P ∗
c) Verify the unitarity of the S -matrix. For simplicity, check that S † S = 1, i.e., S cb S ca =
c
δab . Hint: Note that δab means δ(a − b) for continuous variables. Having this in
mind, the function
R ϵ/((E a − E c )2 + ϵ2 ), with ϵ being infinitesimal, can be replaced in
P
any integral d E c by πδ(E a − E c ), which basically means that g (c)ϵ/[(E a − E c )2 +
P c
ϵ2 ] → g (c)πδac = πg (a)].
c

The S -matrix in the time-dependent formalism

25. Consider Tba = 〈ϕb |V |Ψ+a 〉 and the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for |Ψ+a 〉. Iterate once
in the Lippmann-Schwinger equation and approximate |Ψ+a 〉 by the first two terms of
the equation obtained. Calculate the S -matrix S ba using the expression obtained for Tba .
We can interpret the result found as a second order approximation for S ba . Calculate
now the Dyson series for the S matrix up to second order in VI (t ) ( I ≡Interaction picture)
and show that the result obtained coincides with the one found in the time-independent
Rt1 Rt1
approach. Hints: Use that d t 2 e −i (E a −H0 )t2 /ħ = lim d t 2 e −i (E a −H0 +i ϵ)t2 /ħ = i ħ(E a − H0 +
−∞ ϵ→0−∞
i ϵ)−1 e −i (E a −H0 )t1 /ħ , where ϵ is taken to be a positive infinitesimal number. Remember
 9

that operators in the Schrödinger picture are related to those in the interaction picture
by means of an operator R(t 0 , t ). You can choose t 0 = 0 without any loss of generality.