Elastic scattering of electrons by hydrogen at intermediate energies: a modified Glauber theory

Abstract

The authors attempt to interpret the drastic modifications of the second-order term, especially the disappearance of Re f_B2, in the Glauber scattering amplitude as primarily due to the so-called straight-line approximation considered in the derivation of this amplitude. Within this view, a new approximate form for the scattering amplitude has been proposed, and new calculations have been performed for elastic scattering of electrons at intermediate energies by a hydrogen atom in its ground state. The results are found to agree very well with experimental data. The calculations may also be used to confirm that the eikonal-Born-series method is a good approximation for electron-hydrogen scattering at intermediate energies.