Positron scattering calculations of elastic, total and momentum transfer cross section for alkaline earth atoms

Abstract

The family of alkaline earth atoms (group 2 elements) forms an interesting set of targets worth studying due to its low positronium formation threshold. In this article, calculations on several important cross sections such as elastic, total and momentum transfer up on positron impact on alkaline earth atoms have been reported. The present calculation uses a modified form of the well-established spherical complex optical potential (SCOP) method. The incident positron is assumed to have energies over a wide range from 1 eV to 5 keV. In the present endeavour, we have proficiently incorporated the positronium formation channel to derive reliable cross section data. Very few scattering studies were found in literature and mostly are theoretical calculations with the exception of Mg. Momentum transfer cross section for the present set of atoms has been reported for the first time.