Kern- und Teilchenphysik II

Lecture7: ep Scattering
(adapted from the Handout of Prof. Mark Thomson)
Prof. Nico Serra
Mr. Davide Lancierini

[Link]
 Electron-Proton Scattering
In this handout aiming towards a study of electron-proton
scattering as a probe of the structure of the proton e–
Two main topics: e –
e−p → e−p elastic scattering
e−p → e−X deep inelastic scattering (next lecture)
But first consider scattering from a point-like
particle e.g. e– e–
e –µ – → e –µ –
i.e. the QED part of
(e–q → e–q)
µ– µ–
take results from e+e– ! µ+µ– and use “Crossing Symmetry” to
obtain the matrix element for e–µ– → e–µ– (1)
p 1 ! p 1 , p2 ! p 3 , p3 ! p4 , p4 ! p2

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !2

 (2)

Work in the C.o.M: e–

e– µ–
µ–
giving

The denominator arises from the propagator

here
as the cross section tends to infinity.
Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !3
 What about the angular dependence of
the numerator ?
The factor reflects helicity (really chiral) structure of QED
Of the 16 possible helicity combinations only 4 are non-zero:

MRR e– MLL e– MRL e– MLR e–

e– e– e– e–
µ– µ– µ– µ–
µ– µ– µ– µ–

-1 cosθ +1 -1 cosθ +1 -1 cosθ +1 -1 cosθ +1

i.e. no preferred polar angle spin 1 rotation again

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !4
 The cross section calculated above is appropriate for the scattering of two
spin half Dirac (i.e. point-like) particles in the ultra-relativistic limit
(where both electron and muon masses can be neglected). In this case

We will use this again in the discussion of “Deep Inelastic Scattering” of

electrons from the quarks within a proton
Before doing so we will consider the scattering of electrons from the composite
proton - i.e. how do we know the proton isn’t fundamental “point-like” particle ?

e– e–
In this discussion we will not be able to use the
relativistic limit and require the general expression
for the matrix element:

p p

(3)

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !5

 Probing the Structure of the Proton
★In e-p → e-p scattering the nature of the interaction of the virtual
photon with the proton depends strongly on wavelength
⬧ At very low electron energies : e–
the scattering is equivalent to that from a
“point-like” spin-less object
⬧ At low electron energies : e–
the scattering is equivalent to that from a
extended charged object
⬧ At high electron energies : e–
the wavelength is sufficiently short to
resolve sub-structure. Scattering from
constituent quarks

⬧ At very high electron energies : e–

the proton appears to be a sea of
quarks and gluons.

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !6

 Rutherford Scattering Revisited
★ Rutherford scattering is the low energy e–
limit where the recoil of the proton can be e–
neglected and the electron is non-relativistic
•Start from RH and LH Helicity particle spinors (neglect proton recoil)

•Now write in terms of: Non-relativistic limit:

Ultra-relativistic limit:

and the possible initial and final state electron spinors are:

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !7

 •Consider all four possible electron currents, i.e. Helicities R!R, L!L, L!R, R!L
e–
e– (4)
e– (5)
e–
e– (6)
e–
e–
e– (7)

•In the relativistic limit ( ), i.e.

(6) and (7) are identically zero; only R!R and L!L combinations non-zero
•In the non-relativistic limit, we have

All four electron helicity combinations have non-zero Matrix Element

i.e. Helicity eigenstates ≠ Chirality eigenstates

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !8

 •The initial and final state proton spinors (assuming no recoil) are:
Solutions of Dirac
equation for a particle
at rest

giving the proton currents:

•The spin-averaged ME summing over the 8 allowed helicity states

where
Note: in this limit all
angular dependence
is in the propagator

• The formula for the differential cross-section in the lab. frame was
derived in KTI:
(8)

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !9

 •Here the electron is non-relativistic so and we can neglect
in the denominator of equation (8)

•Writing and the kinetic energy of the electron as

(9)

★ This is the normal expression for the Rutherford cross section. It could have
been derived by considering the scattering of a non-relativistic particle in the
static Coulomb potential of the proton , without any consideration of the
interaction due to the intrinsic magnetic moments of the electron or proton.
From this we can conclude, that in this non-relativistic limit only the interaction
between the electric charges of the particles matters.

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !10

 The Mott Scattering Cross Section
• For Rutherford scattering we are in the limit where the target recoil is
neglected and the scattered particle is non-relativistic
• The limit where the target recoil is neglected and the scattered particle is
relativistic (i.e. just neglect the electron mass) is called Mott Scattering
• In this limit the electron currents, equations (4) and (6), become:

Relativistic Electron “helicity conserved”

• It is then straightforward to obtain the result:

(10)

Rutherford formula Overlap between initial/final

with state electron wave-functions.
Just QM of spin ½
★ NOTE: we could have derived this expression from scattering of
electrons in a static potential from a fixed point in space .
The interaction is ELECTRIC rather than magnetic (spin-spin) in nature.
★ Still haven’t taken into account the charge distribution of the proton…..
Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !11
 Form Factors
•Consider the scattering of an electron in the static potential
due to an extended charge distribution.
•The potential at from the centre is given by:

with

•In first order perturbation theory the matrix element is given by:

•Fix and integrate over with substitution

★The resulting matrix element is equivalent to the matrix element for scattering
from a point source multiplied by the form factor

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !12

 •There is nothing mysterious about form factors – similar to diffraction of plane
waves in optics. •The finite size of the scattering centre
introduces a phase difference between
plane waves “scattered from different points
in space”. If wavelength is long compared
to size all waves in phase and
For example:

point-like exponential Gaussian Uniform Fermi

sphere function

unity “dipole” Gaussian sinc-like

Dirac Particle Proton 6Li 40Ca

•NOTE that for a point charge the form factor is unity.

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !13
 Point-like Electron-Proton Elastic Scattering
•So far have only considered the case we the proton does not recoil...
For the general case is
e–
e–
p p
•From Eqn. (2) with the matrix element for this process is:

(11)

•Experimentally observe scattered electron so eliminate

•The scalar products not involving are:

•From momentum conservation can eliminate :

i.e. neglect
Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !14
 •Substituting these scalar products in Eqn. (11) gives

(12)

• Now obtain expressions for and

(13)
(14)
NOTE: Space-like
• For start from

and use

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !15

 •Hence the energy transferred to the proton:
(15)

Because is always negative and the scattered

electron is always lower in energy than the incoming electron
•Combining equations (11), (13) and (14):

•For we have

(16)
Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !16
 Interpretation
So far have derived the differential cross-section for e−p → e−p elastic
scattering assuming point-like Dirac spin ½ particles. How should we
interpret the equation?

Compare with

the important thing to note about the Mott cross-section is that it is equivalent
to scattering of spin ½ electrons in a fixed electro-static potential. Here the
term is due to the proton recoil.

the new term: Magnetic interaction : due to the

spin-spin interaction

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !17

 The above differential cross-section depends on a single parameter. For an electron
scattering angle , both and the energy, , are fixed by kinematics

Equating (13) and (15) Substituting back into (13):

e.g. e−p → e−p at Ebeam= 529.5 MeV, look at scattered electrons at θ = 75o
For elastic scattering expect: [Link] et al., Phys. Rev. 139 (1965) B458

The energy identifies the scatter as elastic.

Also know squared four-momentum transfer

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !18

 Elastic Scattering from a Finite Size Proton
★In general the finite size of the proton can be accounted for by introducing
two structure functions. One related to the charge distribution in the proton,
and the other related to the distribution of the magnetic moment of the proton,

• It can be shown that equation (16) generalizes to the ROSENBLUTH FORMULA.

with the Lorentz Invariant quantity:

• Unlike our previous discussion of form factors, here the form factors are a
function of rather than and cannot simply be considered in terms of the
FT of the charge and magnetic moment distributions.
But and from eq (15) obtain

So for we have and

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !19
 •Hence in the limit we can interpret the structure functions in
terms of the Fourier transforms of the charge and magnetic moment distributions

•Note in deriving the Rosenbluth formula we assumed that the proton was
a spin-half Dirac particle, i.e.

•However, the experimentally measured value of the proton magnetic moment

is larger than expected for a point-like Dirac particle:

So for the proton expect

• Of course the anomalous magnetic moment of the proton is already evidence

that it is not point-like !
Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !20
 Measuring GE(q2) and GM(q2)

•Express the Rosenbluth formula as:

where i.e. the Mott cross-section including

the proton recoil. It corresponds
to scattering from a spin-0 proton.

•At very low q2: •At high q2:

•In general we are sensitive to both structure

functions! These can be resolved from
the angular dependence of the cross
section at FIXED

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !21

 EXAMPLE: e−p → e−p at Ebeam= 529.5 MeV
Electron beam energies chosen to give certain values of
Cross sections measured to 2-3 %

q2 = 293 MeV2
[Link] et al., Phys. Rev. 139 (1965) B458

NOTE
Experimentally find
GM(q2) = 2.79GE(q2),
i.e. the electric and
and magnetic form
factors have same
distribution

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !22

 Higher Energy Electron-Proton Scattering
★Use electron beam from SLAC LINAC: 5 < Ebeam < 20 GeV
•Detect scattered electrons using the
“8 GeV Spectrometer”

bending magnets

12m
e−

θ
High q2 Measure

[Link] et al., Phys Rev D8 (1973) 63

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !23

 High q2 Results
★Form factor falls rapidly with
•Proton is not point-like
Point-like proton •Good fit to the data with “dipole form”:

★Taking FT find spatial charge and

magnetic moment distribution

with
•Corresponds to a rms charge radius

★ Although suggestive, does not

imply proton is composite !
★ Note: so far have only considered
ELASTIC scattering; Inelastic scattering
[Link] et al., Phys. Rev. D49 (1994) 5671
is the subject of next handout
[Link] et al., Phys. Rev. D48 (1993) 29

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !24

 Summary: Elastic Scattering
★For elastic scattering of relativistic electrons from a point-like Dirac proton:

Rutherford Proton Electric/ Magnetic term

recoil Magnetic due to spin
scattering

★For elastic scattering of relativistic electrons from an extended proton:

Rosenbluth Formula

★Electron elastic scattering from protons demonstrates that the proton is an

extended object with rms charge radius of ~0.8 fm

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !25

 Appendix I : Crossing Symmetry
★ Having derived the Lorentz invariant matrix element for e+e– ! µ+µ–
“rotate” the diagram to correspond to e–µ– → e–µ– and apply the
principle of crossing symmetry to write down the matrix element !
e+e– !µ+µ– e –µ – ! e –µ –
e+ µ– e– e–

e+e– !µ+µ–
e– µ+
★ The transformation:
µ– µ–
Changes the spin averaged matrix element for
e– e+ !µ– µ+ e– µ– ! e– µ–

Mark Thomson/Nico Serra Nuclear and Particle Physics II !26