Elastic electron scattering from the antimony atom in the spin-polarized optical potential approach

Abstract

This is the first theoretical study of elastic scattering of electrons on antimony atoms in a broad range of low and intermediate collision energies from 0.1 eV to 1 keV. A complex optical potential (OP) in the spin-polarized approximation is used for the calculation of differential (DCSs) and integral scattering cross sections as well as a spin exchange asymmetry parameter. It is shown that for this atom the spin dependence of not only exchange interaction, but also polarization interaction should be taken into account at the asymmetry calculation. Two types of absorption potential are used: a non-empirical potential within the quasi-free electron scattering approximation and a McCarthy-type empirical potential. The calculations are also performed without taking account of absorption effects, i.e. in the approximation of solely the parameter-free real part of the OP. Characteristics of the antimony atom and spin correlation–polarization potentials are found using the local spin density approximation. Energy and angular positions of 11 critical minima in the DCSs are found. The highest energy minimum among them is located at [663.2 eV; 132.02°]. In the angular vicinities of the critical minima, spin polarization parameters, the Sherman function S(θ) and the U(θ) function are calculated. The present DCSs and S(θ) are compared with other available theoretical and experimental data.