 Rutherford impact-parameter relation

Let $\theta$ be the scattering angle between incoming and outgoing velocities, so forward scattering is $\theta =0$ and exact reversal is $\theta =\pi$. Define the length $a=\kappa /(2E)$. ThenFor $b>0$, this gives $0<\theta <\pi$; $b=0$ is the head-on limiting case $\theta =\pi$. Large deflections select small impact parameters, rather than requiring every incident alpha particle to reverse.

A short derivation uses conservation of angular momentum and conservation of energy. Choose the polar angle $\varphi =0$ at closest approach, and write $u=1/r$. The Binet equation for the repulsive Coulomb potential givesThe last equality follows by substituting this orbit into $E=m{\dot{r}}^2/2+L^2/(2m{r}^2)+\kappa /r$. The hyperbola reaches infinity at $\varphi =\pm {\varphi }_{\infty }$, with $\cos {\varphi }_{\infty }=1/ϵ$. Its scattering angle is $\theta =\pi -2{\varphi }_{\infty }$, henceThis proves the relation without assuming that the deflection is small. The symbol $ϵ$ here is a dimensionless orbital parameter, distinct from ${\epsilon }_0$.