Excitation Cross Section for Helium Atoms

Abstract

The excitation scattering of electrons from helium atoms is investigated in order to examine quantitatively the errors introduced by the fact that the description of the helium target is only approximately known. The cross section is calculated in Born approximation using formally equivalent matrix elements which weight the wave functions differently in space. Similar shapes for angular distribution and total cross section $\mathrm{vs}$ energy curves are obtained although absolute values differ.