Analytic problems involving diffraction
1.The Fourier transform of a helix.
(a) First parametrize it by an angle theta, so that
rH(θ)=R(cosθˆx+sinθˆy)+h2πθˆz
R and
h are parameters with meanings you should try to understand. The density of the helix is
Calculate the three dimensional Fourier transform of ρ up to multiplicative prefactors. Here
R and
h are constants.
ρ(r)=∫∞−∞δ(r−rH(θ))dθ.
Hint: Look at http://physics.ucsc.edu/~josh/116C.07/index.html for a handout with relevant equations in it.
(b) Sketch what the diffraction pattern should look like for a helix.
2. Fourier for a spherical shell of radius.
Take ρ(r)=δ(|r|−R). Calculate its three dimensional Fourier transform, up to multiplicative prefactors.
3. Now consider a cubic crystal of spherical shells, with lattice spacing a that is greater than
2R. What is the Fourier Transform in this case?
4. Consider a comb function but without an infinite number of delta functions:
CL(x)=∑Ln=−Lδ(x−n)
Normally the comb function has L=∞. Calculate the Fourier transform of
CLfor finite
L.
Hint. Write CL as the product of
C∞(which you know how to Fourier transform) and a top hat function. Then use the convolution theorem.
5. What does the previous problem tell you about how a diffraction pattern changes for crystals of finite size? How about finite length DNA molecules?
6. Give three examples where helices are important in biological systems. Find an example of a structure such as in problem 2.
7. How would your answer for 1 change for a double helix? Hint: use the shift theorem for fourier transforms.