Total cross-section measurements for positrons and electrons scattered by sodium and potassium atoms

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.44.1620· OSTI ID:5310087

Kwan, C K; Kauppila, W E; Lukaszew, R A; Parikh, S P; Stein, T S; Wan, Y J; Dababneh, M S ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI (USA)

Absolute total-scattering cross sections ({ital Q}{sub {ital T}}'s) have been measured for positrons and electrons colliding with sodium and potassium in the 3--102-eV range, using the same apparatus and experimental approach (a beam-transmission technique) for both projectiles. Comparing the present measured {ital Q}{sub {ital T}}'s for positron and electron scattering by each separate alkali-metal atom shows that (1) they are very similar in shape and magnitude over the entire energy range investigated, (2) they tend to merge near (and above) the relatively low energy of about 40 eV, and (3) the positron {ital Q}{sub {ital T}}'s become higher than the corresponding electron values as the projectile energy is decreased below about 40 eV. These positron and electron {ital Q}{sub {ital T}} comparison measurements differ markedly from the situation for room-temperature gases, but are supported by recent theoretical calculations both for the positron and electron {ital Q}{sub {ital T}} comparisons and for their respective absolute values.

• OSTI ID: 5310087
• Journal Information: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States) Vol. 44:3; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640303 -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Positronium
Muonium
& Muonic & Mesic Atoms & Molecules
640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
ENERGY RANGE
EV RANGE
EV RANGE 10-100
METALS
POSITRON COLLISIONS
POSITRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
POTASSIUM
SODIUM
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS