B2.22

Applications of Quantum Mechanics
Part II, 2002

Define the reciprocal lattice for a lattice LL with lattice vectors \ell.

A beam of electrons, with wave vector k\mathbf{k}, is incident on a Bravais lattice LL with a large number of atoms, NN. If the scattering amplitude for scattering on an individual atom in the direction k^\hat{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime} is f(k^)f\left(\hat{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime}\right), show that the scattering amplitude for the whole lattice

Leiqf(k^),q=kkk^\sum_{\ell \in L} e^{i \mathbf{q} \cdot \ell} f\left(\hat{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime}\right), \quad \mathbf{q}=\mathbf{k}-|\mathbf{k}| \hat{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime}

Derive the formula for the differential cross section

dσdΩ=Nf(k^)2Δ(q),\frac{\mathrm{d} \sigma}{\mathrm{d} \Omega}=N\left|f\left(\hat{\mathbf{k}}^{\prime}\right)\right|^{2} \Delta(\mathbf{q}),

obtaining an explicit form for Δ(q)\Delta(\mathbf{q}). Show that Δ(q)\Delta(\mathbf{q}) is strongly peaked when q=g\mathbf{q}=\mathbf{g}, a reciprocal lattice vector. Show that this leads to the Bragg formula 2dsinθ2=λ2 d \sin \frac{\theta}{2}=\lambda, where θ\theta is the scattering angle, λ\lambda the electron wavelength and dd the separation between planes of atoms in the lattice.