Distorted Wave Method Applied to Elastic Scattering of Electrons by Magnesium Atom

Abstract

Knowledge of differential and integral cross sections for electron-atom or electronion collision is very important in the study of astrophysics, plasma physics and laser development. So it is essential to make studies of differential and integral cross sections for electron atom collision either experimentally or theoretically. In this study the Distorted Wave Method has been applied to calculate the differential and integral cross sections for elastic scattering of electrons by a magnesium atom in the energy range from 10 -100 eV. In particular electron impact energies 10, 15, 2040,60, 80, and 100 eV have been considered over scattering angles from 100 to 1800. Though both the theoretical and experimental results are available for the elastic scattering of electron by magnesium atom, there exist discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical results. Furthermore, theoretical results among themselves do not agree. Hence there was a need to carry out calculation for the above process. These results have been obtained by modifying a computer program DWBA1. The obtained results have been compared with available theoretical and experimental results. It is found that the present differential cross sections results for electron-magnesium elastic scattering at impact energies between 20eV-1 OOeV agree reasonably well with the available experimental results as well as theoretical results. Finally, the distorted wave method as formulated in the present calculations can be used to reliably predict the integral cross section for the electron-magnesium elastic scattering at impact energies between 60 eV and 100 eV.