On polarization effects in coulomb electron scattering

Abstract

Polarization effects in Coulomb electron scattering are considered by using Stokes parameters technique. As four real parameters completely describe the intensity and the polarization of a beam, the transition probability is expressed by aT-matrix which operates on them and the general relation expressing theT-matrix in terms of theS-scattering matrix is then deduced. TheT-matrix connecting the Stokes parameters of the scattered beam with those of the incident one is obtained in Horn’s first approximation. As is well known, in this approximation there are no polarizing effects, but it becomes easy to discuss explicitly, the spin direction dependence on the scattering angle. TheT-matrix expression for a general spherical field is then obtained without using Born approximation, and some general features, and in particular the polarizing effect, are discussed.