Elastic Scattering of Low-Energy Electrons by Metastable He in the Polarized-Core Distorted-Wave Approximation

Abstract

Cross sections for elastic scattering of slow electrons ($\mathrm{He}(1s, 2s){}_{}{}^{1,3}{}_{}{}^{}S$ have been computed in the static Hartree-Fock field and in the induced-polarization potential field of the atom, using the approximate parametrized form of Reeh's potential. The equation describing the complete elastic scattering process has been deduced from the Schrödinger equation. The potential terms are identified as the static central and the induced polarization potential. The scattering equation is numerically integrated to obtain the phase shifts for each partial wave. The computed cross section can satisfactorily account for the observed cross section. The characteristic feature is the relatively large contribution of higher partial waves to the total cross section, and the contributions of nine partial waves have been included.