PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

5.1 Solving Kepler equation

Consider the Kepler equation

ωt = ψ − e sin ψ.
We wish to find a Fourier expansion of e sin ψ so that the solution can be written in the form
∞
X
ψ(ωt) = ωt + An sin(nωt),
n=1

where An are the Fourier coefficients in the expansion

∞
X
e sin ψ = An sin(nωt).
n=1

We multiply the above equation by sin(mωt) and integrate from 0 to π/ω, noting that
Z π/ω (
0 for m 6= n,
sin(nωt) sin(mωt)dt = π/ω
0 2 for m = n.

Thus, all terms in the summation vanish, except for the case of m = n. We then find that
the coefficients are given by
Z π/ω
2
An = ω e sin ψ sin(nωt)dt.
π 0

Make the change of variables to ν = ωt, and we have

2 π
Z
An = e sin(ψ(ν)) sin(nν)dν.
π 0
Integrating by parts,
 π Z π 
2 1  1 0
An = − e sin(ψ(ν)) cos(nν) + e cos(ψ(ν))ψ (ν) cos(nν)dν .
π n 0 n 0

The first term vanishes, because sin(ψ(0)) = sin(ψ(π)) = 0. For the second term, we observe
that
e cos(ψ(ν))ψ 0 (ν)dν = d(e sin(ψ(ν))) = d(ψ(ν) − ν) = dψ(ν) − dν.
Therefore, the integral becomes
2 1 π 1 π
 Z Z 
An = cos(nν)dψ(ν) − cos(nν)dν .
π n 0 n 0
The second integral vanishes, since sin(nπ) = sin(0) = 0. For the first integral, we make the
substitution ν = ψ − e sin ψ, giving
21 π
Z
An = cos(nψ − ne sin ψ)dψ.
nπ 0

1
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

Observe that the integral definition of the Bessel function of the first kind is

1 π
Z
Jn (x) = cos(nτ − x sin(τ ))dτ.
π 0

Comparing the two, we see that

2
An = Jn (ne).
n
Therefore, the solution to Kepler’s equation can be written as
∞
X 2
ψ(ωt) = ωt + Jn (ne) sin(nωt).
n
n=1

The power series expansion of Jn (x) around x = 0 (for integer n) is given by

∞
X (−1)m  x 2m+n
Jn (x) = .
m!(m + n)! 2
m=0

Thus, we can expand ψ in powers of e by

   
1 2 3 1
ψ = ωt + (sin(ωt)) e + sin(2ωt) e + sin(3ωt) − sin(ωt) e3 + · · · .
2 8 8

5.2 Yukawa potential: combination of power-law and exponential

Consider the Yukawa potential

k
V (r) = − e−r/a .
r

(a) Starting from the Lagrangian, we have

1
L = T − V = m(ṙ2 + r2 θ̇2 ) − V (r).
2
We have that θ is a cyclic variable, so pθ = l is a constant of motion. Thus, we have for
the first equation of motion
∂L
= mr2 θ̇ = l.
∂ θ̇
The second equation is given by
d ∂L ∂L ∂V
− = mr̈ − mrθ̇2 + = 0.
dt ∂ ṙ ∂r ∂r
Using the first equation, we can rewrite the second equation as

l2 l2
 
∂V d d
mr̈ = − + 3
=− V + 2
= − V 0,
∂r mr dr 2mr dr

2
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

where V 0 is the effective one-dimensional potential. Multiply both sides by ṙ and inte-
grating with respect to t gives
1 2
mṙ = −V 0 + E,
2
where is the resulting integrations constant, and the total energy, since we see that this
equation is equivalent to
1
E = mṙ2 + V 0 .
2
We can use the effective one-dimensional potential

k l2
V 0 (r) = − e−r/a + ,
r 2mr2
to classify the nature of orbits. We first want to know when the behavior of one term
dominates, which requires solving the equation

k −r/a l2
e = ,
r 2mr2
or equivalently,
1 r/a 2m
e = 2 r.
k l
This is a transcendental equation and cannot be solved analytically. However, there are
three possible cases. The two equation either have 0 intersections, 1 intersection, or 2
intersections.
In the case of 0 or 1 intersection, the Yukawa potential will dominate the behavior for all
r (except possible at a point). In this case, we have an effective potential like that seen
below.

14

12

10

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

In this case, all possible orbits are unbounded.

In the case of 2 intersections, the Yukawa potential still dominates as r → 0 and r → ∞,
but there exists a range of r1 < r < r2 where the 1/r2 behavior dominates. A possible
graph of the effective potential is shown below. The two images are from the same graph,
but with different “windows”, in order to show both the local minimum and the local
maximum.

3
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

0.008
10
0.006
5
0.004

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

0.002
-5

10 20 30 40 50
- 10
- 0.002
- 15
- 0.004

- 20
- 0.006

0 .
In this case, there is a local maximum for which all orbits are unbounded if E > Vmax
However, there is also a “well” that allows for bounded orbits when E ≤ 0, with circular
orbits occurring at E = Vmin0 . In addition, if we have 0 < E < V 0 , then one can have
max
either bounded or unbounded orbits, depending on the initial value of r.

(b) In terms of the inverse radius u = 1/r, we have the following equation for orbits
(eq. (3.34)),
d2 u m d
2
+u=− 2 V (1/u).
dθ l du
We have V (1/u) = −kue−1/ua , the differential equation is then, in the case of the Yukawa
potential,
d2 u mk
2
+ u = 2 e−1/au (1 + (au)−1 ).
dθ l
Consider the case of a near-circular orbit, where u = u0 + δ(θ), for constant u0 and δ(θ)
small. First, set
mk
f (u) = 2 e−1/au (1 + (au)−1 ).
l
note that by Taylor expansion,

∂
f (u) ≈ f (u0 ) + f (u)|u=u0 δ(θ)
∂u
≈ e−1/au0 (1 + (au0 )−1 ) + e−1/au0 a−2 u−3
0 δ(θ).

Therefore, to first order, the differential equation is

mk −1/au0
δ 00 + u0 + δ = e (1 + a−1 u−1 −2 −3
0 + δa u0 ).
l2
To find u0 = 1/r0 , we know that a circular orbit occurs when d 0
dr V (r) = 0, which means

d 0 l2 k k
V (r) = − 3 + 2 e−r/a + e−r/a = 0,
dr mr r ar
which gives the condition

l2 u30 2
e−1/au0 = (u + u0 /a)−1 .
km 0

4
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

Regrouping terms, we have and equation of the form

δ 00 + ω 2 δ = 0,

which has sinusoidal solutions with frequency

mk −1/au0
ω2 = 1 − e .
l2 a2 u30

Plugging the expression for u0

mk −1/au0 1
ω2 = 1 − e =1− .
l2 a2 u30 a2 u20 + au0
1 r0
Assuming au0  1 or a  1, we can then find
s
1 1
ω= 1− ≈ 1 − 2 2.
a2 u20 + au0 2a u0

Suppose the apsides occurs at θ = 0. Then the next apsides will occur at

!
2π 1
∆θ = ≈ 2π
ω 1 − 2a21u2
0
 2
1  r 2
0
≈ 2π + π = 2π + π .
au0 a

In a purely circular orbit, the apsides should occur every 2π radians. Near a circular
orbit, however, we have that the apsides is advancing by approximately π(r0 /a)2 .

5.3 Differential cross-section for repulsive inverse cube law force

Suppose we have a repulsive central force of the form f = kr−3 . The corresponding po-
tential is V (r) = 21 kr−2 . We first find the relationship between the scattering angle Θ and
the impact parameter s using
Z um
s du
Θ(s) = π − 2 q ,
0 1 − V E(u) − s2 u2

where V (u) = 12 ku2 and um = 1/rm , with rm the distance of closest approach. Making the
q
k
change of variables w = u s2 + 2E , this integral easily evaluates to
q 
k
2s s2 + 2E
Θ(s) = π − q sin−1  .
s2 + k rm
2E

5
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

To find rm , we first note by conservation of angular momentum that

l = mv0 s = mvm rm ,

where vm is the speed at rm . Then, by conservation of energy,

v0 s 2
 
1 1 k 1 k
E = mv02 = mvm 2
+ 2 = m + 2 .
2 2 rm 2 rm rm
Solving for rm yields s r
k k
rm = s2 + = s2 + .
mv02 2E

Thus, since sin−1 = π/2, we have

!
s
Θ(s) = π 1 − k
.
2
s + 2E

Substituting in x = Θ/π and solving for s, we get

k (1 − x)2
s2 = .
2E (2x − x2 )
Differentiating,

k (2x − x2 )(−2(1 − x)) − (1 − x)2 (2 − 2x)

2s ds = dx
2E (2x − x2 )2
k (1 − x)(−4x + 2x2 − 2 + 2x + 2x − 2x2 )
= dx
2E x2 (2 − x)2
k (1 − x)
= −2 dx.
2E x2 (2 − x)2
Hence,
   
s  ds  s  ds 
  dx = k (1 − x) dx
σ(Θ) dΘ = dΘ = .
sin Θ dΘ
  sin(πx) dx
  2E x (2 − x)2 sin(πx)
2

5.4 Truncated repulsive Coulomb potential

Consider the truncated repulsive Coulomb potential

(
k/r, r > a,
V (r) =
k/a, r ≤ a.

The scattering angle is dependent on the impact parameter s according to

Z ∞
s dr
Θ(s) = π − 2 r   .
rm 2 V (r) 2
r r 1− E −s

6
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

We will first find the minimum separation rm . By conservation of angular momentum,

l = mv0 s = mvm rm ,

where vm is the speed of the particle at r = rm . By conservation of energy, then

v0 s 2
 
1 2 1 2 1
E = mv0 = mvm + V (rm ) = m + V (rm ),
2 2 2 rm
which gives the relation
s2 V (rm )
1= 2
+ .
rm E
For rm > a, this becomes

s2 k 2 k
1= 2
+ =⇒ rm − rm − s2 = 0,
rm rm E E
which has solution s 2
k k
rm = + + s2 .
2E 2E
Note that since the discriminant is always larger than k/2E, taking the negative root in the
quadratic formula would lead to rm < 0. Next, for rm < a, we have

s2 k 2 s2
1= 2
+ =⇒ rm = k
.
rm aE 1 − aE

Finally, for rm = a,
s20
 
k 2 2 k
1= 2 + =⇒ s0 = a 1 − .
a aE aE
Returning to the case of rm > a, we see that
 
k k
s2 = rm
2
− rm = rm rm − .
E E

Since E > k/a, then k/E < a < rm so that rm − k/E > a − k/E. This means,
 
2 k
s >a a− = s20 .
E
Hence, if we have s ≥ s0 , then rm ≥ a and the particle will stay within the region of the
usual repulsive Coulomb potential. Hence, if s ≥ s0 , we have the relation
Θ 2Es
cot = .
2 k
Thus, we have
 q 
k

2Es
 
2Es/s0
 2Ea 1 − aE s
Θ(s) = 2 cot−1 = 2 tan−1 = 2 cot−1  .
k k/s0 k s0

7
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

For the case of s ≤ s0 (or rm ≤ a), we return to the original formula,

Z ∞
s dr
Θ(s) = π − 2 r  
rm
r r2 1 − V E(r) − s2
Z ∞ Z a
s dr s dr
=π−2 q − 2 q
k rm r r 2 1 − k



a r r2 1 − rE − s2 aE − s
2

For the first integral,

Z ∞
s dr
q
k


a r r2 1 − rE − s2
Z 1
a s du
= q
0 1 − Ek u − s2 u2
  1
k 2u a
−1  E + 2s 
= − cos q 
( Ek )2 + 4s2 

  0  
k s2 k
+2a
= − cos−1  q E  + cos−1  q E 
k 2 2 k 2 2
( E ) + 4s ( E ) + 4s

For the second integral,

Z a Z a
s dr s dr
q = r 
k

2
rm r r2 1 − aE − s2 rm
rs r
−1
rm
Z a
dx
rm r
= √ (x = )
1
2
x x −1 rm
p  a π
r
a 2

−1 2  rm −1
= − cot ( t − 1) = − cot ( ) −1
1 2 rm
π r 
m
= − sin−1 (rm < a)
2 a

Combining two integrals, we get for s < s0 ,

   
  k s2 k
a + 2
Θ(s) = 2 cot−1 ( )2 − 1 − 2 cos−1  q E a  + 2 cos−1  q E 
rm k 2
( ) + 4s 2 k 2
( ) + 4s2
E E

Consider the special case of E = 2k/a. Then we have

r √
k 2
s0 = a 1 − = a,
aE 2

8
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

So the expression for s ≥ s0 is simplified to

 
Θ ss0 √ s
cot =2 2 .
2 s0
and for 0 < s < s0 , we have √
k 2 √
= s0 rm = 2s
E 2
Now we can organize everything to get the final answer
  √ 
 2 cot−1 2 2 s , s ≥ s0 ,
    s0
s    2
  
Θ = −1
  1+2 s s
s0 s −1  r 0  − 2 cos−1  r 1
2 sin s0 + 2 cos

  2  2
, 0 < s < s0 .
s
 1+8 s0
1+8 ss
0

A plot of this case can be seen below.

θ
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
s

1 2 3 4 5 s0

5.5 Attractive potential

The potential in this problem is:

(
0, r > a,
V (r) =
−V0 , r ≤ a.

It is obvious that when s > a, there is no scattering(Θ = 0). Nontrivial results arise when
s < a. Since this potential is roughly a step function, the speed of incident particle will be a
step function with a jump at r = a. Set the speed to be v when r > a and v 0 when r < a.
Energy conservation gives
1
mv 2 = E (r > a)
2
1
mv 02 − V0 = E (r < a).
2

9
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

We can read the ratio between two velocity as

r
v0 E + V0
= =n
v E
q
Here we define n as n = E+V E .
0

Since the potential only changes along radial direction, only radial force acting on the particle
when it passes through r = a. Therefore, velocity tangent to the circle at r = a of the particle
remain unchanged when passing through r = a. This leads to the relation that
v sin α = v 0 sin β ⇒ sin α = n sin β

α−β
α

Θ
β
s a rm
α a
O

From the plot above , one can read

s rm s
sin α = sin β = = ,
a a na
where the last equation comes from angular momentum conservation
s
msv = mrm v 0 ⇒ rm = .
n
The path of incident particle is symmetric respect to the center of the potential, so we can
find from the plot that
Θ = 2(β − α)
Note that Θ is negative since it is clockwise respect to Θ = 0. Also this is the typical feature
of scattering from attractive potential.
Plugging expressions for α and β in ,
Θ = 2(β − α)
Θ
cos = cos(β − α)
2
Θ
cos = cos β cos α + sin β sin α
2 r r
Θ s2 s2 s2
cos = 1 − 2 1 − 2 2 + 2
2 a n a na

10
 PHYS 601 HW 5 Solution

Rewriting the above equation, one can find

na sin Θ2
s(Θ) = q
1 + n2 − 2n cos Θ2

Then deferential cross-section σ(Θ) can be obtained as

n2 a2 n cos Θ2 − 1 n − cos Θ2



s ds
σ(Θ) = | |=
2
sin Θ dΘ 4 cos Θ2 1 + n2 − 2n cos Θ2

To get the total cross-section, we need to integrate over the angle Θ

Z Θmax
σT = 2π σ(Θ) sin(Θ)dΘ = πa2
0

where Θmax = 2 cos−1 ( n1 ). This result agrees with the fact that no scattering appears when
s > a, so total cross-section is the area of the circle with radius a, which means σ = πa2 .

11