Mott scattering

The Mott scattering ( by Nevill F. Mott ) is the elastic scattering of a point Spin-1/2-Teilchens ( fermion ), eg of an electron in a static, point-like charge without spin. It is used in nuclear and particle physics used to study the structures of nucleons ( protons and neutrons ) and their constituents, the quarks.

This type of dispersion is similar to that of Rutherford scattering, in which a spin -free particles is scattered on a single charge. The additional spin -orbit interaction arises from the magnetic moment of the spins, which interacts with the magnetic moment, which is formed by the orbital angular momentum of the scattered charge.

The other case, an elastic scattering of two point-shaped particles, each having a spin is described by the Dirac - scattering.

The differential cross -section of the Mott scattering, the Mott cross section is:

With

• Z, Z ': ordinal numbers and charges ( as multiples of the elementary charge ) of the two particles involved
• E: elementary charge
• : Electric field constant
• E: total energy of the relativistic fermions after scattering: p: pulse
• C: speed of light
• M: mass of the fermion

• Lorentz factor
• V: speed
• : Scattering angle.

The function of the scattering angle can be understood as meaning that the backward scattering () is suppressed. This would correspond namely a spin flip, but this is not possible with a spinless target particles.

In the non-relativistic limit (ie, ignoring the spin through ) the Mott scattering cross-section enters the Rutherford scattering cross section.

Mott scattering is the basis for the Mott - detector with which the direction of the spin can be determined by electron.