Differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of positrons from the heavy noble gases at intermediate energies

Abstract

Calculations for elastic scattering of positrons from the heavy noble gases are calculated using an ab initio complex optical potential to take into account the loss of incident flux into open inelastic channels. The pronounced minimum in the differential cross section at small scattering angles seen at low incident positron energies gradually disappears as the energy increases above the inelastic thresholds in agreement with experimental measurements. Results for scattering from argon, krypton and xenon at energies from the inelastic threshold to several hundred eV will be presented.