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Lecture 16

This document discusses cross sections and center of mass energy. It defines the cross section as the geometrical area that represents the probability of a reaction occurring when a projectile hits a target. It shows diagrams of scattering angles in different frames. It also defines elastic and inelastic scattering, direct reactions, and compound nucleus reactions based on whether the projectile and target are the same before and after interaction. The kinetic energy in the center of mass frame and its relation to the laboratory frame is also covered.

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Rainesius Dohling
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29 views

Lecture 16

This document discusses cross sections and center of mass energy. It defines the cross section as the geometrical area that represents the probability of a reaction occurring when a projectile hits a target. It shows diagrams of scattering angles in different frames. It also defines elastic and inelastic scattering, direct reactions, and compound nucleus reactions based on whether the projectile and target are the same before and after interaction. The kinetic energy in the center of mass frame and its relation to the laboratory frame is also covered.

Uploaded by

Rainesius Dohling
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture 16

Significance of the Area


Fig 3
If the incident particle or the projectile hit some where in the zone, then the reaction will take place.

So it is this area which is represented by the cross section. But this is the total cross section. This is

shown in fig. 1.

Different distances in this area correspond to different directions in which that reaction particle will

finally be emitted. This is shown in fig 2.

Similarly at the same distance it can be in different places which means same θ but different

φ. This is depicted in fig 3.

So each small part correspond to a definite direction defined by θ and ϕ.

So in a way this is the geometrical area which implies visualization what cross sectional area ca be

related to. By no means we can say quantitative nor is it realistic. It’s a qualitative discussion only.
Now we need to understand the relationship between centre of mass (CM) energy and

lab energy.

v1
ma mA
1
E  mv 2

2
lab a 1
Lab Frame

CM frame ma mA
mv A 1
mv
m m V  a 1

m m
cm
a A
a A
Similarly the scattering angle in the lab frame

to that of the scattering angle in the CM

frame.
K.E in the CM frame is given by
2 2

1  mv  1  mv 2

m  A 1
  m  a 1

2 m m  2 m m
a A

a A a A 
1 mm
 a A
v m  m
2

2 m  m  2 1 a A

a A

1 mm m 
 v E a A 2 A

2 m  m  m m
1
lab
a A a A

E
E  lab

 m 
cm

1  a

 m A 
Scattering
a+A=a+A( elastic scattering )

a+A=a’ +A ( inelastic scattering)

Nuclear Reaction

a+A=b+B ( Direct reaction)

a+A=C’=C+ɣ=b+B( compound nucleus reaction)

Summary
if a=b
A=B implies scattering
if a is not = b
and A is not equal to B we have reaction.

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