Angle-differential and momentum-transfer cross sections for low-energy electron-Cs scattering.

Abstract

Based on a previous Dirac [ital R]-matrix calculation [U. Thumm and D. W. Norcross, Phys. Rev. A 45, 6349 (1992)], we have derived elastic and inelastic angle-differential and elastic momentum-transfer cross sections for slow electrons ([ital E][sub kin][le]2.8 eV) colliding with neutral Cs atoms. Our results for the angle-differential cross sections are in good agreement with scaled experimental data and, depending on the incident electron energy, in qualitative or fair quantitative agreement with previously published theoretical work. The inelastic angle-differential cross sections for 6[ital p][sub 1/2] and 6[ital p][sub 3/2] excitation differ by more than a statistical branching ratio due to relativistic effects. For the momentum-transfer cross sections, we hope to resolve existing discrepancies in the literature and to provide more reliable input for transport calculations.