Particle Physics with the Computer

Okan Isik (03646283)

Contents
1 Introduction

2 Kinematics of Elastic Collisions

3 Analysis

4 Discussion

ii

Introduction

The use of computer in experimental physics are playing substantial role since
of complexity and immensity of data obtained from experiments. In this project
we will examine th elastic collisions. Then we will try to drive conditions to determine the elastic collision among the events. Throughout this project a specialized
program ROOT will be employed to analyze the data from High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES).

Kinematics of Elastic Collisions

Elastic collisions are the process that outcome particles do not change their
types and there is not any new type of particles after the collision. A typical
elastic collision is the proton-proton scattering. With use of special kinematics
of elastic collision it is possible to determine the elastic events. Now lets assume
a target particle is collided with a beam particle and outgoing particles are the
same type:
PB + PT P1 + P2
(1)
A proton-proton scattering can be evaluated under two reference system.
Figure(1) shows center of mass system which is denoted with (*). At center

of mass frame total momentum of beam and target particle is zero (Pb + Pt = 0).
As a result of momentum conservation we may write P1 + P2 = 0. After the collision the total energy is divided equally among the outgoing particles, so these
condition lead us to write the equation below,
1 + 2 =

(2)

Figure(2) shows Target System frame. If we assume the beam particle is moving on z axis, since of momentum conservation the absolute difference of angles
between momentum vector of P1 and P2 with x axis on xy plane ( recpectivly
1 , 2 ) is equal to .
|1 2 | =

(3)

Equation (3) is the first condition for elastic scattering.

Now we need to transform measured four vector target system into the center
of mass system . Under Lorentz transformation perpendicular components to the
velocity of the beam particle are equal to each other. That is why,
P1 sin1 = P1 sin1
1

(4)

Figure 1: Center of Mass frame System

Figure 2: Target Frame System

Equality of parallel components of the momentum vector to the z axis can be
expressed as below,
P1 cos1 = pp (P1 cos1 E1 pp )

(5)

where pp and pp are respectively Lorentz factor and velocity of initial P+P
system. By dividing Eq.(4) with Eq.(5) we obtained:
tan1 =

sin1
E

pp (cos1 pp P 1 )

(6)

with help of Eq.(2) it is possible to write:

tan2 =

sin2
pp (cos2

pp
)
1

(7)

Where speed of light is equal to one,the relativistic momentum and the energy
of a particle can be expressed as:
P = m

E = m =

(8)

P 2 + m2

(9)

With new equations it is straightforward to see E1 /P1 is equal to 1/1 . When

we substitute this into Eq.(6) both equation (6) and (7) have the value of pp /1 .
Energy and momentum conservations give this value as one. Now it is possible
to calculate the tangents product with help of Pythagoras theorem.
tan1 tan2 =

1
2
pp

(10)

we have the second condition to select an elastic collision among events. To

be able to consider an event as elastic collision both Eq.(10) and Eq.(3) have to
be fulfilled at the same time by a collision.

Analysis

We have found out two conditions to decide if an event is elastic collision or

not. First condition is the absolute difference of angels from Eq.(3) has to be .
Second condition is product of tangents from Eq.(10) has to equal 1/ 2 . Now by
employing this two conditions to the set of recorded data we will try to select
elastic collision.
Firstly, velocity of P+P system is,
pp =

P b + Pt
Eb + Et

(11)

We know that target proton is at rest. Thus its momentum is zero and its
rest energy is mp . Beam particles energy is Eb,kinetic + mp . That is why,
pp =

Pb
Eb,kin + 2mp

(12)

From the experiment data we know that Eb,kinetic is 3.5 Gev. To find out the
Pb relativistic energy equation might be used,
Eb2 = Pb2 + m2p

(13)

q
Pb = (Eb,kin + mp )2 m2p

(14)

Mass of proton is 0.938 Gev. We found out momentum of beam proton from
Eq.(14) substituted these value into the Eq.(12). Afterwards by using this value
2
which is,
it is easy to determine the 1/pp
1
pp = p
2
1 pp

(15)

1
= 0.349
2
pp

(16)

Finally we own the two value for selecting an elastic collision: absolute value
of angles is and the product of tangents is 0.349. We had a set of data which
posses the value of angles and tangents. By employing programing language
ROOT we plot the Fig. (3).

Figure 3: histograms of outgoing particles

At the top-left corner y axis is the number of events and x axis is the absolute
difference of the Phi angles from Eq.(3). As we see there is a peak around value
of 3.14() corresponds with around 16000 events. It means that there are around
16000 collisions whose difference of Phi angles is equal to .
4

At the top-right corner y axis is the number of events and x axis is the the
value of product of tangents of 1 and 2 angles. It has been seen from the graph
that there is a peak around the value of 0.349 corresponds with 7000. It means
that there are 7000 collision whose tangent product of angles 1 and 2 is equal
to 0.349.
At the bottom, y axis is the number of events and x axis is the tangent product
of angles. At this histogram, constrain of difference of Phi angles is applied on
the distribution of the tangent product of angles.As it can be seen, the number
of the events corresponding to 0.349 value has reduced to around 3000.

Figure 4: histogram of outgoing particles with both constrains

Finally, at the figure 4, y axis is the number of collision and x axis is the
difference of Phi angles. At this histogram, both constrains for the difference of
Phi angles and tangent product of angles 1 and 2 has been applied on the data.
As a result, it is obvious that the total number of collision reduced to around
240.

Discussion

We derived two equation as conditions for an elastic collisions, one condition

on the difference of Phi angles and other one on the tangent product of angles 1
and 2 . When we applied those conditions on the data singularly, we can see that
the number of collision is decreasing which means we get rid of unwanted (inelastic) scatterings. Moreover, when we applied the both conditions at the same
time, we can estimate the total amount of the elastic proton-proton collisions.