Semiclassical theory of elastic electron-atom scattering

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.51.1248· OSTI ID:6601123

Burgdoerfer, J; Reinhold, C O; Sternberg, J; Wang, J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1200 (United States) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6377 (United States)

We show that diffraction oscillations in elastic electron-atom scattering can be quantitatively accounted for semiclassically in terms of path interferences. The quantum scattering amplitude is expressed as a topological sum over classical and pseudoclassical paths, containing only information on the classical dynamics. The sum is shown to converge rapidly. The validity of the semiclassical theory of potential scattering is analyzed in terms of the angular-momentum dependence of the classical action for the radial motion.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6601123
• Journal Information: Physical Review A; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A; (United States) Vol. 51:2; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664300* -- Atomic & Molecular Physics-- Collision Phenomena-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
FLUIDS
GASES
KRYPTON
NONMETALS
OSCILLATIONS
POTENTIAL SCATTERING
RARE GASES
SCATTERING
SCATTERING AMPLITUDES
SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION