Low-energy electron elastic scattering from Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Ag, and Cd atoms

Abstract

Electron elastic total cross sections (TCSs) for ground and excited Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Ag, and Cd atoms have been investigated in the electron-impact energy range 0 \ensuremath{\leqslant} $E$ \ensuremath{\leqslant} 1 eV. The near-threshold TCSs for both the ground and excited states of these atoms are found to be characterized by Ramsauer-Townsend minima, shape resonances, and extremely sharp resonances corresponding to the formation of stable bound negative ions. The recently developed Regge-pole methodology where the crucial electron-electron correlations are embedded is employed for the calculations. From close scrutiny of the imaginary parts of the complex angular momenta, we conclude that these atoms form stable weakly bound ground and excited negative ions as Regge resonances through slow electron collisions. The extracted electron binding energies from the elastic TCSs of these atoms are contrasted with the available experimental and theoretical values.