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ProblemSet3 2025

The document outlines a problem set for a physics course at IIT Delhi, focusing on scattering theory, semiclassical methods, and quantum mechanics. It includes various problems related to scattering potentials, phase shifts, and the behavior of identical particles, as well as applications to neutron scattering and graphene. The problems require calculations of scattering amplitudes, cross-sections, and energy eigenvalues in different potential scenarios.

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11 views4 pages

ProblemSet3 2025

The document outlines a problem set for a physics course at IIT Delhi, focusing on scattering theory, semiclassical methods, and quantum mechanics. It includes various problems related to scattering potentials, phase shifts, and the behavior of identical particles, as well as applications to neutron scattering and graphene. The problems require calculations of scattering amplitudes, cross-sections, and energy eigenvalues in different potential scenarios.

Uploaded by

univere7676
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PYL556: Third Problem Set - Scattering

Theory, Semiclassical Methods, Identical


Particles and Quantum Statistics, Relativistic
Quantum Mechanics
Physics Department, I I T Delhi
April 6, 2025

1. Show that if the scattering potential has a translational invariant prop-


erty, V (r + R) = V (r), where R is some lattice translational vector,
then the Born approximation of scattering vanishes unless q · R = 2πn,
where n ∈ I.

2. Consider a ( radial) spherical repulsive potential of the form

V (r) = V0 , r < a
= 0, r > a

(a) Find out the scattering amplitude and differential scattering cross
section under Born approximation ( upto the first order term). What
is the condition for validity of this approximation at low energy.
(b) Repeat the calculation of total scattering cross section σT by using
partial wave expansion and only considering the s-wave contribution.

3. Consider the scattering by a gaussian potential

V (r) = V0 exp −α2 r2




Obtain the differential scattering cross-section under Born approxima-


tion.

1
4. Consider a ( radial) square well potential of the form

V (r) = −V0 , r < a


= 0, r > a
q q
Set k = 2mE
ℏ2
k0 = 2mV
, ℏ2
0
, and K 2 = k 2 + k02 .
(a) Calculate the phase shift δ0 and δ1 for low energy scattering (ka ≪
1).
(b) Find the condition for resonance scattering of the s-waves and p-
waves. (c) Calculate the total cross-section for off-resonance scattering
at low energies ( ka ≪ 1, δ1 ≪ δ0 ≪ 1).

5. The structure of a crystalline solid is experimentally measured with a


method known as neutron scattering method. Here is a brief description
of how it is done. The interaction of the neutron with a lattice can be
modelled through the effective potential

′ 2πℏ2 X
H = an δ(r − r(n))
m n

In the above expression m is mass of the neutron, an is the bound


scattering length of the n-th nucleus and the summation is over all the
nuclei in the lattice. Assume that all the nuclei to have zero spin and
there is no isotope such that an is independent of n. Calculate the
elastic scattering cross section of neutrons by a simple cubic lattice of
spacing d and show that the condition for non-vanishing scattering is
given by Bragg’s law.

6. Using the semiclassical approximation (WKB), calculate the transmis-


sion coefficient of a potential barrier

x2
V (x) = V0 (1 − ) − −a ≤ x ≥ a
a2
= 0, otherwise

7. Using the WKB approximation, derive the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantiza-


tion rule.

2
8. Three imaginary ”spinless” fermions are confined to a one-dimensional
box of length L. The confinement potential is
V = 0, 0 ≤ x ≤ L
= ∞ otherwise
We assume there is no interaction between the fermions.
(a) What is the ground state of the fermions?
(b) Suppose the number of fermions are N . What is the Fermi energy
of the system.
(c) Repeat the part (a) for the problem if the particles are electrons
which has spin- 12 .
9. The interaction potential of two-identical spin- 21 particle is given by
V(r) = V (r)[3I + σ 1 · σ 2 ]
Here σ i is the Pauli matrices for the i-th particle and I is the unit
matrix of correction dimension.
ℏ2
V (r) = = , r<R
4µr2
= 0, r > a
(a) What is the result of applying the spin-part of the operator [3I +
σ 1 · σ 2 ] on the singlet state and on the triplet state.
(b) Two such particles
q are scattered on each other at low energies,
2µE
kR ≫ 1, k = ℏ2
. What is the dominant phase=shift that will
contribute to the scattering amplitude ( and the cross section) if the
total spin of the system is S = 0. And find out the same if the total
spin is S = 1.
(c) Calculate the phase shift for S = 0 case if kR ≪ 1.
(d) Repeat the calculation done in (c) for the case S = 1.
(e) Find the cross-section for an unpolarised beam.
10. The charge carrier in two dimensional hexagonal monolayer graphene
under ambient conditions and within suitable approximation obeys the
following eigenvalue equation
 
0 k̂x − ik̂y
ĤΨ = ℏvF Ψ = ϵΨ
k̂x + ik̂y 0

3
c
Here ℏ is the Plack’s constant, vF ≈ 400 is the Fermi velocity with c is
the velocity of the light, ℏk̂x,y is the standard one dimensional momen-
tum operator in quantum mechanics.
The effective hamiltonian Ĥ is same as the hamiltonian for a mass-
less Dirac fermion in two spatial dimension . (a) Find out the energy
eigenvalues and the energy eigenfunctions. (b) We shall now consider
the above problem in a one dimensional rectangular potential barrier
of the form

U (x) = U0 , 0 < x < L


= 0, otheriwse

Show how the hamiltonian given in the question will the modified. Now
obtain the stationary solutions with energy E in presence of the barrier
in all regions. (d) Calculate the reflection and transmission amplitude
from the rectangular barrier.
(e) Discuss their difference from a similar problem in non-relativistic
quantum mechanics that you studied in Q. Mech. I.

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