Experimental Total Cross Sections Research Articles

An investigation into electron scattering from pyrazine at intermediate and high energies

Total electron scattering cross sections for pyrazine in the energy range 10-500 eV have been measured with a new magnetically confined electron transmission-beam apparatus. Theoretical differential and integral elastic, as well as integral inelastic, cross sections have been calculated by means of a screening-corrected form of the independent-atom representation (IAM-SCAR) from 10 to 1000 eV incident electron energies. The present experimental and theoretical total cross sections show a good level of agreement, to within 10%, in the overlapping energy range. Consistency of these results with previous calculations (i.e., the R-matrix and Schwinger Multichannel methods) and elastic scattering measurements at lower energies, below 10 eV, is also discussed.

Total electron-scattering cross sections of pyrimidine

Total electron-scattering cross sections of pyrimidine, the basic component for the nucleic bases cytosine and thymine, were measured for electron energies from 5 eV to 1 keV using the linear transmission method. The measured results were compared to semiempirical data obtained by means of the additivity rule and to experimental data for benzene since it has a similar ring structure and the same number of valence electrons as pyrimidine. Furthermore, integral elastic and inelastic electron-scattering cross sections of pyrimidine were calculated by applying the spherical complex optical potential model. The sum of both cross sections agrees reasonably well with the experimental total electron-scattering cross sections of pyrimidine in the energy range from 20 eV to 1 keV. The experimental data are, however, significantly lower than the theoretical cross sections when including the contribution of rotational excitations to the electron scattering.

Low-energy positron scattering from iodomethane

We report experimental total cross sections (TCSs) and calculated elastic integral cross sections (ICSs) for positron collisions with iodomethane (methyl iodide, CH3I). The experimental TCSs were obtained with a linear transmission technique, for energies from 0.1 up to 50 eV. The present TCS data agree well with those previously reported (Kimura et al 2001 J. Chem. Phys. 115 7442) at higher energies (above 7 eV), but significant discrepancies are found at the lower energies. The present ICS computations were performed with the Schwinger multichannel method (SMC) and the Born dipole approximation in the incident energy range from 0.1 eV up to 10 eV. Iodomethane poses a great challenge to theoretical descriptions of the collisions dynamics. In addition to the neglect of inelastic channels, the main difficulty found in the SMC approach is related to numerical limitations that prevent a thorough description of correlation–polarization effects. Although our ICS calculations do not compare well with the present TCS data, the results are encouraging, as iodomethane would challenge all the presently available computational approaches.

Quantum-mechanical predictions of electron-induced ionization cross sections of DNA components

Ionization of biomolecules remains still today rarely investigated on both the experimental and the theoretical sides. In this context, the present work appears as one of the first quantum mechanical approaches providing a multi-differential description of the electron-induced ionization process of the main DNA components for impact energies ranging from the target ionization threshold up to about 10 keV. The cross section calculations are here performed within the 1st Born approximation framework in which the ejected electron is described by a Coulomb wave whereas the incident and the scattered electrons are both described by a plane wave. The biological targets of interest, namely, the DNA nucleobases and the sugar-phosphate backbone, are here described by means of the GAUSSIAN 09 system using the restricted Hartree-Fock method with geometry optimization. The theoretical predictions also obtained have shown a reasonable agreement with the experimental total ionization cross sections while huge discrepancies have been pointed out with existing theoretical models, mainly developed within a semi-classical framework.

Role of theN*(2080)inpp→pK+Λ(1520)andπ−p→K0Λ(1520)reactions

We investigate the $\Lambda(1520)$ hadronic production in the $p p \to p K^+ \Lambda(1520)$ and $\pi^- p \to K^0 \Lambda(1520)$ reactions within the effective Lagrangian method. For $\pi^- p \to K^0 \Lambda(1520)$ reaction, in addition to the "background" contributions from $t-$channel $K^*$ exchange, $u-$channel $\Sigma^+$ exchange, and $s-$channel nucleon pole terms, we also consider the contribution from the nucleon resonance $N^*(2080)$ (spin-parity $J^P = 3/2^-$), which has significant coupling to $K\Lambda(1520)$ channel. We show that the inclusion of the nucleon resonance $N^*(2080)$ leads to a fairly good description of the low energy experimental total cross section data of $\pi^- p \to K^0 \Lambda(1520)$ reaction. From fitting to the experimental data, we get the $N^*(2080)N\pi$ coupling constant $g_{N^*(2080)N \pi} = 0.14 \pm 0.04$. By using this value and with the assumption that the excitation of $N^*(2080)$ is due to the $\pi^0$-meson exchanges, we calculate the total and differential cross sections of $p p \to p K^+ \Lambda(1520)$ reaction. We also demonstrate that the invariant mass distribution and the Dalitz Plot provide direct information of the $\Lambda(1520)$ production, which can be tested by future experiments.

Cross sections for positron scattering from ethane

We report experimental and theoretical cross sections for positron scattering from the fundamental organic-chemistry molecule ethane (C${}_{2}$H${}_{6}$). The experimental total cross sections (TCSs) were obtained using a linear transmission technique, for energies in the range 0.1--70 eV and with an energy resolution of $\ensuremath{\sim}$0.25 eV (full width at half maximum). Agreement, over the common energy range, with the earlier TCS measurements of Floeder et al. [J. Phys. B 18, 3347 (1985)] is excellent, while both the present results and those of Floeder et al. are consistently higher in magnitude than the data of Sueoka and Mori [J. Phys. B 19, 4035 (1986)]. The present calculations employed the Schwinger multichannel method and were performed in the static plus polarization approximation for energies up to 10 eV. Our calculated elastic integral cross sections (ICSs) indicate a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum at around 1.4 eV in the ${A}_{g}$ scattering symmetry, and a virtual state. In addition we calculated from our scattering cross section a scattering length of $\ensuremath{-}$13.83${a}_{0}$. Agreement between our measured TCS and calculated elastic ICS is found to be only qualitative, although this is perhaps not so surprising given the TCS below 10 eV in principle includes contributions from rotational, vibrational, and electronic-state excitation and positronium formation whereas the calculation does not.

Phenomenological formula of total reaction cross sections for low-energy systems

This Brief Report presents a phenomenological formula of total reaction cross sections for different reaction systems at low energies, taking into account the case of weakly bound nuclei as projectiles. To get this phenomenological formula, a large set of experimental data were collected and compared. Based on the experimental total reaction cross sections, three parameters were used to modify Wong's formula. The total reaction cross sections of different systems at low energies including weakly bound projectiles were reproduced using the modified formula.

Positron scattering from O2

We report on recent cross section results for positron scattering from molecular oxygen (O2). Total cross sections (TCSs) were measured with a positron spectrometer in the energy range from 0.1 to 50 eV and with an energy resolution of the positron beam of ∼0.25 eV. In addition, TCSs as well as elastic and inelastic integral cross sections were computed within the independent atom model and screening corrected additivity rule approach, with both dipole and dipole plus quadrupole polarization potentials, between 1 and 1000 eV impact energy. An overall fair level of accord is found between the experimental TCS and that calculated with the model that includes the quadrupole term. Comparison to earlier measurements shows very good agreement with the present measured TCS and fair agreement with the TCS computed with our most physical model above ∼8 eV. Conversely, we find only a marginal level of accord when comparing our experimental TCS with previous computations, while the present TCS calculated with the dipole plus quadrupole potentials appears to agree reasonably well with most of the existing theoretical results above ∼100 eV.

The total incoherent scattering cross sections for low-Z elements

The total incoherent scattering cross sections are calculated using relativistic and nonrelativistic incoherent scattering functions for the energy range 1–10,000keV for low-Z elements (C, O, Ne, S, Ar). The calculated cross sections are compared with tabulated theoretical values and found to be smaller than the tabulated theoretical values with a ratio of 1.86–90.46% in relativistic formalism and 1.82–7.27% in nonrelativistic formalism. The smallest total incoherent scattering cross sections are obtained by using relativistic scattering functions for the smaller momentum transfers and nonrelativistic scattering functions for the other momentum transfers. It is also observed that the total incoherent cross sections calculated using relativistic scattering functions for the smaller momentum transfers in calculation on the basis of nonrelativistic Hartree–Fock theory (NRHF) are closer to the experimental total incoherent cross sections with a ratio of 0–3.84%.

Positron collisions with ethene

We present experimental and theoretical cross sections for positron collisions with ethene molecules. The experimental total cross sections (TCSs) were obtained with a linear transmission technique, for energies from 0.1 eV up to 70 eV. The calculations employed the Schwinger multichannel method and were performed in the static plus polarization approximation for energies up to 10 eV. Our calculated elastic cross sections indicate a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum around 2.8 eV and a virtual state, in agreement with previous calculations by da Silva et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 1028 (1996)]. We found reasonable agreement between the calculated elastic integral cross section and the measured total cross section below the positronium formation threshold. The present results are also in quite good agreement with available theoretical and experimental data, although for the experiments this is only true for TCSs above about 7 eV.

Ionization of RNA-uracil by highly charged carbon ions

We present a theoretical description of highly charged carbon ion-induced ionization of isolated RNA-uracil molecules. A comparison between recent experimental and theoretical total cross sections is provided.

Electron scattering by methanol and ethanol: A joint theoretical-experimental investigation

We present a joint theoretical-experimental study on electron scattering by methanol (CH(3)OH) and ethanol (C(2)H(5)OH) in a wide energy range. Experimental differential, integral and momentum-transfer cross sections for elastic electron scattering by ethanol are reported in the 100-1000 eV energy range. The experimental angular distributions of the energy-selected electrons are measured and converted to absolute cross sections using the relative flow technique. Moreover, elastic, total, and total absorption cross sections for both alcohols are calculated in the 1-500 eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the dynamics of the electron-alcohol interaction, whereas the scattering equations are solved iteratively using the Padé's approximant technique. Our calculated data agree well with those obtained using the Schwinger multichannel method at energies up to 20 eV. Discrepancies at high energies indicate the importance of absorption effects, included in our calculations. In general, the comparison between our theoretical and experimental results, as well as with other experimental data available in the literature, also show good agreement. Nevertheless, the discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental total cross sections at low incident energies suggests that the experimental cross sections measured using the transmission technique for polar targets should be reviewed.

Elastic collisions of low-energy electrons with SiY4(Y=Cl, Br, I) molecules

We employed the Schwinger multichannel method to compute elastic integral, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections for low-energy electron collisions with Si$Y$${}_{4}$ ($Y$ $=$ Cl, Br, I) molecules. The calculations were carried out in the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization approximations for energies up to 10 eV. The elastic integral cross section for SiCl${}_{4}$ and SiBr${}_{4}$, computed in the static-exchange plus polarization approximation, shows two shape resonances belonging to the ${T}_{2}$ and $E$ symmetries of the ${T}_{d}$ group, and for SiI${}_{4}$ shows one shape resonance belonging to the $E$ symmetry of the ${T}_{d}$ group. The present results agree well in shape with experimental total cross sections. The positions of the resonances observed in the calculated integral cross sections are also in agreement with the experimental positions. We have found the presence of a virtual state for SiCl${}_{4}$ and a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum for SiI${}_{4}$ at 0.5 eV. The present results show that the proper inclusion of polarization effects is crucial in order to correctly describe the resonance spectra of these molecules and also to identify a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum for SiI${}_{4}$ and a virtual state for SiCl${}_{4}$.

Positron scattering from the isoelectronic molecules N2, CO and C2H2

We report our results on the experimental total cross sections (TCSs) for positron scattering from the isoelectronic molecules N2, CO and C2H2. Where possible, for each species, comparison is made between the present results and those from earlier measurements and calculations. The agreement between the present and earlier experimental results, within the overall uncertainties on the data, is typically satisfactory for energies greater than about 8 eV, but is only marginal at lower positron impact energies. While N2, CO and C2H2 possess 14 electrons each, we find significant differences in the magnitudes of their respective TCSs and subtle differences in the energy dependence of these TCSs. These details are discussed in depth in this paper.

Electron scattering from hexafluoroacetone molecules: cross section measurements and calculations

Absolute total cross section (TCS) for electron scattering from hexafluoroacetone (HFA: (CF3)2CO) molecules has been measured from 1 to 400 eV, employing a linear electron-transmission technique. The TCS energy function for the electron–HFA collision has two broad enhancements: the first, visible between 2 and 28 eV, can be partly attributed to resonant processes; the second is much broader, centred around 50 eV, and is characteristic of perfluorinated targets. The low-energy enhancement is superimposed with weak features perceptible near 3.6, 8.5 and 17 eV. Calculations were carried out for HFA and for acetone to obtain the integral elastic and ionization cross sections at intermediate and high incident energies, using the independent atom approximation and binary-encounter-Bethe approach, respectively. The computed total (elastic plus ionization) cross sections are above 70 eV in reasonable agreement with the experimental TCSs. A comparison is made between cross sections for HFA and its per-hydrogenated counterpart, acetone ((CH3)2CO); the effect of perfluorination is indicated.

Total Cross Sections for Neutron Nucleus Scattering

Systematics of neutron scattering cross sections on various materials for neutron energies up to several hundred MeV are important for ADSS applications. Ramsauer model is well known and widely applied to understand systematics of neutron nucleus total cross sections. In this work, we examined the role of nuclear effective radius parameter (r$_0$) on Ramsauer model fits of neutron total cross sections. We performed Ramsauer model global analysis of the experimental neutron total cross sections reported by W. P. Abfalterer, F. B. Bateman, {\it et. al.,}, from 20MeV to 550MeV for nuclei ranging from Be to U . The global fit functions which can fit total cross section data over periodic table are provided along with the required global set of parameters. The global fits predict within $\pm 8%$ deviation to data, showing the scope for improvement. It has been observed that a finer adjustment of r$_0$ parameter alone can give very good Ramsauer model description of neutron total scattering data within $\pm 4%$ deviation. The required r$_0$ values for Ramsauer model fits are shown as a function of nuclear mass number and an empirical formula is suggested for r$_0$ values as a function of mass number. In optical model approach for neutron scattering, we have modified the real part of Koning-Deleroche potentails to fit the neutron total cross sections using SCAT2 code. The modified potentails have a different energy dependence beyond 200MeV of neutron energy and fit the total cross sections from Al to Pb.

Near-threshold electron-impact doubly differential cross sections for the ionization of argon and krypton

We present normalized doubly differential cross sections (DDCS's) for the near-threshold, electron-impact single ionization of argon and krypton, similar to those taken earlier for Ne and Xe [Yates et al., J. Phys. B 42, 095206 (2009)]. The Ar measurements were taken at incident energies of 17, 18, 20, and 30 eV while the Kr measurements were taken at 15, 16, 17.5, and 20 eV. The DDCS scattering angles range from 15${}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$ to 120${}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$. The differential data are initially normalized to available experimental cross sections for excitation of the ground ${\mathit{np}}^{6}$ to the ${\mathit{np}}^{5}(n+1)s$ excited states of the noble gas and, after integration, to well-established experimental total ionization cross sections of Rapp and Englander-Golden [J. Chem. Phys. 43, 1464 (1965)].

Electron swarm parameters in pure C2H2 and in C2H2–Ar mixtures and electron collision cross sections for the C2H2 molecule

Electron swarm parameters (the drift velocity and the longitudinal diffusion coefficient) were measured in pure C2H2 and also in C2H2–Ar mixtures containing 0.517% and 5.06% acetylene over wide E/N ranges. These swarm parameters were analysed using a Boltzmann equation analysis and a set of electron collision cross sections for the C2H2 molecule was derived so that it was consistent with the present swarm data and published ionization coefficient. The present result suggested the presence of a Ramsauer–Townsend minimum in the elastic momentum transfer cross section at 0.08 eV and prominent threshold and resonance peaks in the ν4/ν5 vibrational excitation cross section. The present cross section set was also confirmed to be consistent with the published experimental total cross section of C2H2.

Measurement of [formula omitted] of Drell–Yan [formula omitted] pairs in the Z mass region from [formula omitted] collisions at [formula omitted

We report on a CDF measurement of the total cross section and rapidity distribution, dσ/dy, for γ∗/Z→e+e− events in the Z boson mass region (66<Mee<116 GeV/c2) produced in pp¯ collisions at s=1.96 TeV with 2.1 fb−1 of integrated luminosity. The measured cross section of 257±16 pb and dσ/dy distribution are compared with Next-to-Leading-Order (NLO) and Next-to-Next-to-Leading-Order (NNLO) QCD theory predictions with CTEQ and MRST/MSTW parton distribution functions (PDFs). There is good agreement between the experimental total cross section and dσ/dy measurements with theoretical calculations with the most recent NNLO PDFs.

An empirical expression for total scattering cross sections of normal hydrocarbons, and experimental total cross sections of C2H2 and C3H4

The total electron scattering cross sections (TCS) of C 2 H 2 and C 3 H 4 have been obtained for 200–4500 eV electrons by measuring the attenuation of the electron beam through a gas cell. An empirical expression is deduced to express the TCS of normal hydrocarbons as a function of the number of atomic constituencies in the hydrocarbon and the electron energy.