Bounded Rutherford Coulomb-scattering solution
For a nonrelativistic point charge scattered repulsively by a heavy fixed point charge with V(r)=κ/r, κ>0, impact parameter b=κ cot(θ/2)/(2E).
Key knowledge
For a nonrelativistic point charge scattered repulsively by a heavy fixed point charge with V(r)=κ/r, κ>0, impact parameter b=κ cot(θ/2)/(2E). The angular differential cross section is (κ/(4E))²csc⁴(θ/2). It is a long-range Coulomb result requiring its own asymptotic treatment, rather than an application of a short-range outgoing-wave boundary condition unchanged.
Values and equations
κ=zZe²/(4πε₀); b=(κ/(2E))cot(θ/2); dσ/dΩ=(κ/(4E))²csc⁴(θ/2)
- κ
- Repulsive Coulomb strength J m
- z,Z
- Projectile and target charge numbers
- e
- Elementary charge magnitude C
- ε₀
- Vacuum permittivity F m⁻¹
- E
- Incident kinetic energy J
- b
- Impact parameter m
- θ
- Deflection angle rad
- dσ/dΩ
- Differential scattering cross section m² sr⁻¹
Conditions and scope
- κ=zZe²/(4πε₀), positive charge product, E the incident kinetic energy in the heavy-target frame, 0<θ≤π. Neglect screening, target recoil, nuclear finite size/force, relativistic and spin effects within the domain considered.
- The ideal unscreened forward divergence makes the full angular integral infinite; real screening and finite angular acceptance require a specified cutoff or more complete model. This is not a high-energy nuclear or electron scattering formula.
Sources · 1
References
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Evidence and review
Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics: chapter 8 (2012): Section 8.1.3B, printed pages 114–115: heavy-target Coulomb impact parameter and standard Rutherford differential cross section. SI Coulomb constant restored; the separate section 8.1.1's nonstandard 1/(4π) cross-section normalization is not adopted.
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