Collision Forces between Light Nuclei

Abstract

IN the interpretation of experiments on anomalous scattering in terms of a field departing from the inverse square law at the closer distances, it has been usual to use, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, only forces of short range corresponding to e²/mc². We are of the opinion that, if the current method of explanation is to be retained, forces of longer range must also be admitted. We have measured the angular distribution of scattering of the slower -particles in hydrogen, deuterium and helium under similar conditions. Our calculations indicate that for all three gases the forces would have to act at distances greater than 10 × 10¹³ cm., although they need not be large until smaller separations are reached. The reason is, briefly, that in all cases the higher phase-constants are important, so that even those particles which approach less closely can penetrate the anomalous region. We are grateful to Dr. J. A. Wheeler for informing us that he had also reached this result, independently, for helium.