Channel coupling and atomic polarization in electron collisions with hydrogen atoms

Abstract

The changes in the partial wave phase shifts for the elastic scattering of 26 and 52 eV electrons by hydrogen, which are produced by coupling of the ground state to the 2s and the 2p states, are calculated. The changes in phase shifts are compared with those produced by the inclusion of a polarization potential. In the energy range considered, it is found that channel coupling gives results markedly different from those given by the polarization potential.