[Physics] the actual formula for fraction of particles scattered at certain angle in Rutherford scattering

radiationscatteringscattering-cross-section

$$N(\theta)=\frac{N_i nLZ^2e^4}{64\pi^2\varepsilon_0^2 R^2E_\alpha^2}\cdot\frac1{\sin^4(\theta/2)}$$
Where:
$N_i$ – Total amount of incident particles
$n$ – amount of gold atoms per unit volume
$L$- thickness of gold foil
$Z$ – atomic number of gold
$e$ – electron charge
$E_0$- absolute permittivity
$R$ – distance between foil and detector
$E_a$ – initial energy of alpha particles
$\theta$ – scattering angle

Everything apart from $N_i$ and theta is a constant for some particular aperture. If I understand the derivation of this equation correctly I should get a number of particles $N(\theta)$ that is a fraction of $N_i$. Or in other words, a number between $0$ and $N_i$.

However at small angles ($\theta \in(0,20)$) my $N(\theta)$ numbers above $10^3$.
Actually I'll never get the expected behaviour from this equation, because $\sin^{-4}$ function reaches infinity at $0$ and never drops below $1$.

Hence the question. Am I misunderstanding and misusing this equation? Or maybe it's not an equation I'm looking for?

Best Answer

$N(\theta)/N_i$ is a probability density not a probability. To get a probability you have to integrate it over $\theta$ or maybe multiply it by $d\theta$. That makes the numbers reasonable again.

Usually the difference is clear because of dimensions, if you're dealing with distributions in things like time or position or energy. But angles are dimensionless that doesn't help here.

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