The Momentum Transfer Cross Section for Electrons in Argon in the Energy Range 0 - 4 eV

Abstract

The momentum transfer cross section for electron-argon collisions in the range 0–4 eV has been derived from an analysis of recent measurements of DT/μ as a function of E/N at 294 K (Milloy and Crompton 1977a) and W as a function of E/N at 90 and 293 K (Robertson 1977). Modified effective range theory was used in the fitting procedure at low energies. An investigation of the range of validity of this theory indicated that the scattering length and effective range were uniquely determined ,and hence the cross section could be accurately extrapolated to zero energy. It is concluded that for ε ≤ 0.1 eV the error in !he cross section is less than � 6 % and in the range 0.4 ≤ ε (eV) ≤ 0.4 the error is less than � 8 %. In the range 0.1 < ε (eV) < 0.4 the presence of the minimum makes it difficult to determine the errors in the cross section but it is estimated that they are less than −20 %, +12 %. It is demonstrated that no other reported cross sections are compatible with the experimental results used in the present derivation.