First Born scattering method
Replacing the exact scattering wave inside the potential integral by the incident plane wave gives f_B(k′,k)=−m∫exp[i(k−k′)·r]V(r)d³r/(2πħ²).
Key knowledge
Replacing the exact scattering wave inside the potential integral by the incident plane wave gives f_B(k′,k)=−m∫exp[i(k−k′)·r]V(r)d³r/(2πħ²). Thus the leading differential elastic cross section probes the squared Fourier amplitude of the potential at momentum transfer ħ(k′−k).
Values and equations
f_B(k′,k)=−m/(2πħ²)∫e^[i(k−k′)·r]V(r)d³r; dσ/dΩ≈|f_B|²
- f_B
- First Born amplitude m
- k,k′
- Incident/outgoing wavevectors m⁻¹
- r
- Source position m
- m
- Scattering/relative mass kg
- V
- Potential energy J
- ħ
- Reduced Planck constant J s
- σ
- Cross section m²
- Ω
- Solid angle sr
Conditions and scope
- Short-range real nonrelativistic elastic potential and weak enough wave distortion for the first Born term to dominate; |k′|=|k|. This is a controlled scattering approximation, not a universally exact weak-energy formula.
- High incident energy alone does not guarantee accuracy for every potential/angle. Strong low-energy resonances, significant repeated scattering and unscreened Coulomb integral convergence require special treatment.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Quantum Mechanics (2016): Born approximation: Equations 10.29–10.31: integral equation, incident-wave substitution and Fourier normalization; equations 10.42–10.44 give a potential-specific validity check. Excludes blanket high-energy/low-energy assertions without the potential-specific conditions.
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