SCATTERING OF FAST ELECTRONS BY VAPOUR-ATOMS AND BY SOLID-ATOMS — A COMPARISON

Abstract

A comparative theoretical study has been done on the scattering of fast electrons by free (vapour) atoms and bound (solid) atoms, in particular, the alkali atoms, Al and Cu. The Born differential cross-sections (DCS), calculated with the static plus polarization electronatom potential, are found in general, to be larger for free atoms than for bound atoms, at least at small angles of scattering. For Rb and Cs the two DCS tend to merge at very large angles only. The sample incident energies chosen are 400 eV and above.