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.