Relativistic convergent close-coupling method calculation of the spin polarization of electrons scattered elastically from zinc and mercury

Abstract

We present spin-asymmetry parameters (Sherman functions) for elastic electron scattering on zinc and mercury atoms calculated using the relativistic convergent close-coupling method for quasi-two-electron atoms above an inert core. The results for mercury are in excellent agreement with experiment across a wide range of energies. Similarly for zinc, we find excellent agreement between theory and experiment for energies below $9.0$ eV. However, at $11.0$ eV there is a discrepancy between theory and experiment, most likely due to a resonance excitation of a core electron.