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Title: New insights into Mott-scattering electron polarimetry

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

In order to understand some of the systematic effects associated with conventional Mott-scattering electron polarization measurements, we analyzed asymmetry data obtained with 94-keV polarized electrons scattered at 120/sup 0/ from gold-foil targets ranging in thickness from 27 to 62 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/. Based upon an examination of the influence of multiple and plural scattering, we conclude that the precision of such Mott measurements is f-italicu-italicn-italicd-italica-italicm-italice-italicn-italict-italica-italicl-italicl-italicy-italic limited by an experimental uncertainty of greater than +- 2.5% and an absolute uncertainty of approximately +-5%, considerably worse than is customarily assumed. We believe that similar conclusions can be drawn for measurements made with ''compact'' cylindrical and spherical Mott polarimeters.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
OSTI ID:
5571991
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Vol. 34:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English