Alexandria University Nuclear Physics
Faculty of Engineering Fall 2025
Nuclear & Radiation Dept.
Sheet 1
Rutherford Scattering
1. Find the total scattering cross section for an alpha particle when the scattering
angle lies between 30o & 50o.
2. Find the total reflection cross section for an alpha particle.
3. Find the total forward scattering cross section for an alpha particle.
Answers
1.
Total scattering cross section for scattering angles between 30 and 50
𝜋𝑏2 30 2 50 2
= 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=30 − 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=50 =
4
(cot ( 2 ) − cot ( 2 ) ) = 2.33 𝜋𝑏 2 .
Check with your solution if you go with the integration approach.
2.
Total reflection implies that the scattering angle lies between 90 and 180
Total reflection cross section = 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=90 − 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=180
𝜋𝑏 2
90 2 180 2 𝜋𝑏 2
= (cot ( ) − cot ( ) )= .
4 2 2 4
3.
Forward scattering implies that the scattering angle lies between 0 and 90
Total forward scattering cross section = 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=0 − 𝜎𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃=90
𝜋𝑏 2 0 2 90 2
= (cot ( ) − cot ( ) )
4 2 2
To avoid the singularity at cot (0):
𝜋𝑏2
Total forward scattering cross section = 𝜎𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝜎𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝜋𝑝2 −
4
If the scattering cross section is normalized:
𝜎𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 1
𝜋𝑏2
& Total forward scattering cross section = 𝜎𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝜎𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 1 −
4