Electron scattering from hydrogen atoms. II. Elastic scattering at low energies from 0.5 to 8.7 eV

Abstract

For pt.I see ibid., vol.8, no.10, p.1641 (1975). Absolute angular differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of electrons from atomic hydrogen have been measured for incident energies from 0.5 to 8.7 eV and for scattering angles between 10 and 150 degrees. The experimental techniques and method were those normally used with crossed electron and modulated atom beams. The angular behaviour of the cross section is consistent with a partial-wave explanation; that is at the lowest energy of 0.5 eV, the angular distribution is peaked in the backward direction because of dominant p-wave exchange scattering; at 3.4 eV there is an angular minimum around 70 degrees because of interference between s, p and increasing d waves and at 8.7 eV the distribution is peaked in the forward direction because of the increasing effect of higher partial waves.