Exchange processes in the scattering of polarized electrons by oxygen molecules

Abstract

The authors present results for the change in polarization of transversely polarized electrons scattered by randomly oriented oxygen molecules over the energy range 0.25 eV to 15 eV. They use the nine-state R-matrix calculations of Noble and Burke (1992) to obtain values for transitions between the four triplet states X3 Sigma g-, C3 Delta u, A3 Sigma u+ and B3 Sigma u-. They confirm that the change in polarization is small for elastic scattering from the ground state, X3 Sigma g-, over the whole of the energy range, through structure can be seen due to the 2 Pi g, 2 Pi u and 4 Sigma u- resonance states. Larger changes are observed for electronic excitation with considerable variation in the 8 eV region due to the 2 Pi u resonance.