The scattering amplitude for electrons of momentum ℏk incident on an atom located at the origin is f(r^) where r^=r/r. Explain why, if the atom is displaced by a position vector a, the asymptotic form of the scattering wave function becomes
ψk(r)∼eik⋅r+eik⋅ar′eikr′f(r^′)∼eik⋅r+ei(k−k′)⋅areikrf(r^),
where r′=r−a,r′=∣r′∣,r^′=r′/r′ and k=∣k∣,k′=kr^. For electrons incident on N atoms in a regular Bravais crystal lattice show that the differential cross-section for scattering in the direction r^ is
dΩdσ=N∣f(r^)∣2Δ(k−k′).
Derive an explicit form for Δ(Q) and show that it is strongly peaked when Q≈b for b a reciprocal lattice vector.
State the Born approximation for f(r^) when the scattering is due to a potential V(r). Calculate the Born approximation for the case V(r)=−aδ(r).
Electrons with de Broglie wavelength λ are incident on a target composed of many randomly oriented small crystals. They are found to be scattered strongly through an angle of 60∘. What is the likely distance between planes of atoms in the crystal responsible for the scattering?