M. Sc.
Physics (Semester-III) - 2025
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Tutorial Sheet-3
1. A beam of 10 MeV electrons is incident on a thin gold foil (Z = 79).
(a) Calculate the Rutherford differential cross-section at a scattering an-
gle of θ = 60◦ .
(b) Modify the result to include the spin of the electron and compute the
Mott scattering cross-section at θ = 60◦ .
(c) For E = 10 MeV, evaluate the Mott suppression factor
dσ
dΩ Mott
M(θ) = dσ
dΩ Ruth
at θ = 10◦ , 30◦ , 60◦ , 90◦ , 120◦ , and 150◦ . Discuss qualitatively the
angular dependence of M(θ) for forward and backward scattering,
and comment on its energy dependence.
2. In a laboratory experiment an accelerated beam of electrons with energies
of 250 MeV is elastically scattered by a nucleus of 48
20 Ca. The scattered
electrons are detected at a laboratory angle of θ = 20◦ . Consider the
charge distribution of the nucleus as that of a uniform hard sphere of
radius R and charge density ρ0 . Ignore the spin and recoil of the target
nucleus.
(a) Compute the nuclear form factor for the given charge distribution.
(b) By what factor does the Mott scattering cross section is reduced from
that of scattering from a point nucleus ?
(c) Estimate the root mean square radius using the calculated form fac-
tor.
3. (a) Calculate the electric quadrupole moment of a uniformly charged
ellipsoid of revolution of semimajor axis a and semiminor axis b.
(b) Consider a deformed nucleus which is an ellipsoid in shape and long
axis is 10% longer than short axis. Estimate quadrupole moment for
Zr(40,90) nucleus. If we compute the electric potential at the first
1
Bohr radius, what accuracy can you expect if you treat the same
nucleus as a point charge? (get reasonable estimate).
4. (a) Calculate the electrostatic energy of a charge Q distributed uniformly
throughout a nucleus of radius R.
(b) It is given that Si(14,27) and Al(13,27) are mirror nuclei and ground
states are same for both nuclei. If their mass difference is 6 MeV then
estimate their radius (neglect the proton-neutron mass difference)
5. The nucleus of an atom has Z protons which are uniformly distributed
inside the nucleus of radius R. The radial potential distribution is given
as - (
−Ze2 2 2
8πϵ0 R3 (3R − r ), (0 ≤ r ≤ R)
V (r) = Ze 2
− 4πϵ 0r
, (r ≥ R)
i). Find the perturbation potential and obtain the energy shift in 2s state
due to nuclear charge distribution. The wave function of ground state is
given as -
Z 3/2 Zr −Zr/2a0
ψ2s = ( ) (2 − )e
2a0 a0
a0 is Bohr radius and R is radius of nucleus.
ii). If we consider a hydrogen atom and convert it into a Muonic atom by
bombardment of π-meson, then how the energy of 2s muonic level will be
changed when the uniform nuclear charge distribution is considered.
