Classical Mechanics (Kibble & Berkshire) · Problem 10.21

The angular momentum principle — T.W.B. Kibble, F.H. Berkshire

Physics — Mechanics · two-body-problem-scattering

Problem

In two-body elastic scattering, show that the angular distribution of the recoiling particles is given by

4\cos\theta_2\, \sigma^{ZM}(\pi - 2\theta_2),

where

\sigma^{ZM}(\psi)

is defined by equation (10.32). In a Rutherford scattering experiment, alpha particles of energy

E

were scattered by a target of ionised helium. Find the angular distribution of the emerging particles.