Polarization and Correlation of Electron Spin in Low-Energy Elastic Electron-Hydrogen Collisions

Abstract

The polarization and correlation of electron spin in low-energy electron-hydrogen scattering are investigated. The physical basis of such phenomena is discussed and quantities in terms of which they may be measured are defined. Expressions relating these quantities before and after collision are given in terms of the singlet and triplet amplitudes for electron-hydrogen scattering. These expressions are plotted as functions of scattering angle for incident electron energies below threshold for excitation of the second quantum level in hydrogen, using the results of an approximate close-coupling solution of the associated scattering problem.