Applications of a High-Energy Coulomb Wave Function

Abstract

The well-known approximate Coulomb wave function, which is essentially the asymptotic form of the exact wave function, is shown to be valid in the computation of certain high-energy, small-angle processes. In an explicit calculation of the atomic photoelectric effect, the result of Hall is obtained in a somewhat more convenient form. Approximations to this result are discussed and the limiting case $\frac{Z{e}^2}{\hslash c}=1\mathrm{}$ is evaluated. For bremsstrahlung and pair production, it is found that the wave function is not completely adequate, although still useful. The Coulomb scattering cross section may also be computed if sufficient care is exercised.