Spin dependence of the electron inelastic mean free path and the elastic scattering cross section — a high-energy atomic approximation

The spin dependences of the inelastic scattering cross section (inverse mean free path) and the elastic scattering cross section are calculated for polarized electrons scattered from oriented atoms in the Born-Ockhur approximation with a view to understanding spin-dependent scattering in ferromagnets. In the medium-to-high-energy range ($\gtrsim$ 100 eV) the elastic scattering for parallel spins is greater than for antiparallel spins, while the inelastic cross section for parallel spins is less than for antiparallel. Elastic spin dependence appears to be greater than inelastic, and the exchange effects fall off rapidly with increasing energy. The relation of this atomistic scattering approach to solid-state models is discussed.