Eikonal differential scattering cross sections for elastic electron–ion collisions in strongly coupled plasmas

Abstract

The eikonal approximation is applied to investigate the elastic electron–ion collision processes in strongly coupled plasmas. Plasma-screening effects are investigated for the eikonal differential elastic scattering cross sections. The electron–ion interaction potential in strongly coupled plasmas has been approximated by the ion-sphere model potential. The classical straight-line trajectory approximation is applied to the motion of the projectile electron in order to investigate the variation of the eikonal differential elastic scattering cross section as a function of the impact parameter and ion-sphere radius. A modified eikonal approximation called the Wallace correction is also considered. The eikonal differential elastic scattering cross sections substantially decrease with an increase of the energy of the projectile electron and increase as the plasma-screening effect decreases through the ion-sphere radius.