A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics · Problem 13.3

Photons and Atoms — John S. Townsend

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · born-approximation-validity

Problem

Show that at low energies (ka→0ka\to 0) the requirement (13.48) for the validity of the Born approximation becomes ∣2μℏ2k∫0∞dr′ V(r′)kr′∣∼μV0a2ℏ2≪1\left|\frac{2\mu}{\hbar^2 k}\int_0^\infty dr'\, V(r')kr'\right| \sim \frac{\mu V_0 a^2}{\hbar^2} \ll 1 where V0V_0 is the order of magnitude of the potential energy, aa is the range of the potential, and we have neglected constants of order unity. By comparing this result with (13.49), argue that if the Born approximation is valid at low energies, it works at high energies as well.

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