Derivation of Rutherfords scattering formula

1. Model assumptions

The interaction between alpha particles and atomic nuclei is formed only by Cou-
lomb interaction; i.e. electrostatic forces between charged particles; all other
forces such as gravitational forces or nuclear forces are neglected.
Alpha particles and nuclei are considered point like; diameter of nucleus was not
known in those days.
Relativistic effects can be neglected (m ~ 1.001 m
0
) because the velocity of alpha
particles is about v ~ 0.1c.
The scattering process of alpha particles happens only by the interaction with
one nucleus; multiple scattering in the very thin metal foil can be neglected.
Mass of Au nuclei is much larger than mass of alpha particles (m
Au
/m
He
=
197au/4au ~ 50); gold nuclei are considered to be at rest.
The flux of alpha particles is homogeneous in space and in time (use of dia-
phragm to achieve a beam of alpha particles; lifetime of radioactive source (Am-
241 is 433 a).

The derivation of the scattering formula by Rutherford will be presented in two steps:
first, the deflection (scattering) of a charged particle by a charged scattering centre; sec-
ond, the scattering of many particles by the atomic nuclei of the metal foil.

2. Scattering of one particle by one nucleus

2.1 Qualitative considerations
The collision parameter b is defined as the smallest distance between particle and scat-
tering centre without any kind of interaction. A positively charged particle (q = +ze) is
moving with constant velocity v and collision parameter b from infinity towards the scat-
tering centre (Q = +Ze). Under the action of the Coulomb force F this incoming particle
will be deflected and is passing the scattering centre under an angle .




Scattering process (parameters see text; for vectors only the scalar value is given).
1
The particle will be scattered more
if the collision parameter is smaller (this particle is passing the scattering centre
in a smaller distance and thus feeling a stronger Coulomb force),
if its velocity v
0
is smaller (the Coulomb force is acting for a longer period),
if the mass of the particle is small,
if the atomic number z of the particle is larger or if the atomic number Z of the
scattering centre is larger (due to larger Coulomb forces).

The three dimensional problem can be reduced to a two-dimensional one,
since the trajectory of the scattered particle is lying in a plane through the scatter-
ing centre (in that case the Coulomb force is a radial force),
since particles with the same collision parameter, possess the same trajectory
(the problem is rotational symmetric around an axis through the scattering centre,
parallel to the incoming direction).

During this motion
the distance r between particle and scattering centre is getting smaller (incoming
channel), has a minimum value and is getting larger (outgoing channel),
the energy is conserved, i.e. in the incoming channel the kinetic energy E
kin
is
decreased and the potential energy E
pot
(in the Coulomb potential) is increased;
in the outgoing channel the change of both kinds of energies is reversed.

2.2 Derivation of the relation b()

According to these qualitative considerations of the former section we expect a relation
between collision parameter and scattering angle (b) depending on the following pa-
rameters of the scattered particle (mass m, velocity v
0
, kinetic energy E
kin
, charge ze)
and scattering centre (charge Ze).

Calculation Explanation
(1)
2
2 2
o o
qQ zZe
F
4 r 4 r
= =


Coulomb force

is acting along the whole scattering process
since both particles are positive this force is pointing
radial away from the scattering centre
is increasing during coming closer to the scattering
centre and decreasing during moving away; i.e. ac-
celeration is not constant
(2)
2 2
o
2
o
dL
M r F 0 L mr v ko
dt
d
L mrv sin mbv mr mr
dt
dt
r bv
d
= = = = =

= = = =
=

nst.

conservation of angular momentum

this conservation law is delivering the relation be-
tween distance r and angle (or angle )
the angular momentum L of the scattered particle is
constant with respect to scattering centre, because
the Coulomb force is acting radial (no torque, cen-
tral field!)
the angular momentum of the particle with velocity
v
0
, starting at infinity, is equal to the angular mo-
mentum at an arbitrary point on the trajectory.
2

(3)
x x y y
2 2
y
y 2
o o o
2
y y
o o
F ma F ma und F ma
dv
zZe sin zZe sin d
F Fsin m
4 bv dt dt 4 r
dv dv ( )
dt zZe sin
dt d 4 bv m d
= = =

= = = =

= =

Newtons laws

the real motion of the scattered particle can be
separated in a motion in x- and y-direction
the force F
y
in y-direction can be calculated accord-
ing to the figure above and with equation (1) and (2)
(4)
2
y
o o
2
y
o o o o
2
y
o o
zZe
v ( ) cos C
4 bv m
zZe zZe
v (0) C 0 C
4 bv m 4 bv m
zZe
v ( ) (1 cos ) 0
4 bv m
= +

= + = =

=

2

velocity in y-direction

integration of equation (3)
the integration constant C can be determined
due to the fact that this particle has no compo-
nent of velocity v
y
at the beginning ( = 0)
angle is varying between 0 and - (see fig-
ure)


(5)
kin pot
2 2
o o
y o
2
o
o o
2
o
o o
2
o
o o
E E konst.
1 1
mv 0 mv 0 v v
2 2
v ( ) v sin
zZe
(1 cos( )) v sin
4 bv m
mit cos( ) cos
zZe sin sin
v mit ta
4 bv m 1 cos 1 cos 2
zZe
v tan( ) fr 0 180
2 4 bv m

+ =
+ = + =
=
=

=

=
+ +

n( )

=
final velocity in y-direction

according to the conservation law of energy the ve-
locity of the scattered particle is v
0
at the beginning
and at the end of the scattering process
the particles velocity v
y
(see eq. (4)) is v
0
sin at the
end of the scattering process (see figure)
some transformations lead to eq. (5)
2
2
kin 0 2
o o
2
o kin
zZe 1
b( ) cot( ) mit E mv
4 v m 2 2
zZe
b( ) cot( )
8 E 2

= =

(6)

relation between collision parameter and scattering
angle b()

From equation (5) we get the collision parameter b;
inserting E
kin
; we get finally the result b().


3. Scattering of many particles by atomic nuclei of the metal foil

The scattering of one particle by one scattering centre is technically impossible. There-
fore, we will explain by the two following figures, how many particles of the flux of parti-
cles will be scattered by an angle :


Scheme of experiment with distance s be-
tween particle source and metal foil, distance
R between scattering centre and detector,
area of metal foil A
F
, area of spherical ring
A
K
, area of detector A
D

Microscopic view of the metal foil with
scattering centres, density n of scattering
centres, area A
F
of metal foil, area of
spherical ring A
b
and thickness d of
metal foil.
3

Calculation Explanations
b
b,ges F b F
b,ges
b
F
F
b b,ges
F F
A 2 b b
A nA d A nA d2 b b
A
N
A N
NA dn2 b N
N A b Ndn2 b b
A A
=
= =

= = = (7)

number of particles N
b
with collision parameter
in the interval b and b + b

Particles with collision parameter b and b + b will
hit a spherical ring area A
b
. With the help of the
total number of all scattering centres (nA
F
d) we
get the total number of effective scattering area
A
b,ges

Under the assumption of an homogeneous parti-
cle beam/flux the following relation N ~ A
F
holds
for the number of particles N which hit the metal
foil area A
F
.
(8)

2
2
2
o kin
1
cot( )
2
2sin ( )
2
zZe b
b( )
16 E sin ( )
2
(
=
(

relation between b and

Differentiation of relation (6) with respect to angle
will deliver (8)
We omit the minus sign in the following, because
it has no physical meaning.
(9)
2
2
3
o kin
cos( )
zZe
2
N Nnd
8 E
sin ( )
2

| |
=
|

\ .

number N of particles which are scattered in the
interval and +

We get this relation by inserting equations (6) and
(8) into equation (7).
The minus sign in (8) was omitted, because only a
positive number of particles makes sense; there-
fore cos(/2)/sin
3
(/2) 0 fr ]0,180]

(10)
2
K
2
K
A 2 Rsin R 2 R sin
mit sin 2sin( )cos( )
2 2
A 4 R sin( )cos( )
2 2
= =

=

=

area A
K
formed by the scattered particles, scat-
tered in the interval and +

In that spherical ring area A
K
the area density
N/A is constant due to rotational symmetry.
Due to the figure the width of the spherical ring is
R, the inner radius is Rsin, so we get for this
area A
K
.
With some transformations we get e.g. (10)

(11)
2
2
K 2
4
o kin
Nnd zZe 1
N A
16 E R
sin ( )
2
| |
=
|

\ .
K

number of scattered particles N
K
which pene-
trates the spherical ring area A
K


Reorganizing eq. (10) we get ; this we insert in
equation (9) and we finally get equation (11).
(12)

K D
K D
2
2
D 2
4
o kin
N N
A A
Nnd zZe 1
N
16 E R
sin ( )
2
0 180

=

| |
=
|

\ .
<
D
A
Rutherfords scattering formula

Number of scattered particles N
D
registered by
the detector with area A
D


We assume that the area density N/A is constant
on area A
K
.


4