- #1
klingerdinger
- 3
- 0
The Rutherford differential cross section [tex]\frac{d\sigma}{d\Omega}[/tex] goes like
cosec([tex]\vartheta[/tex])^4
which means at [tex]\vartheta[/tex]=0 the differential cross section is infinite, which is ok.
My question is, given that the differential cross section is proportional to the probability per unit solid angle [tex]\frac{dP}{d\Omega}[/tex], which is proportional to the expected rate of scattered particles, why/how does the expected rate go to infinity at [tex]\vartheta[/tex]=0?
I take I've got something a little/very wrong...
cosec([tex]\vartheta[/tex])^4
which means at [tex]\vartheta[/tex]=0 the differential cross section is infinite, which is ok.
My question is, given that the differential cross section is proportional to the probability per unit solid angle [tex]\frac{dP}{d\Omega}[/tex], which is proportional to the expected rate of scattered particles, why/how does the expected rate go to infinity at [tex]\vartheta[/tex]=0?
I take I've got something a little/very wrong...