Elastic scattering of electrons and positrons by complex atoms at intermediate energies

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Abstract
The elastic scattering of fast electrons and positrons by complex atoms is analyzed by using the basic ideas of the eikonal-Born series method within the framework of the optical-model formalism. This approach allows us to derive from first principles a local second-order pseudopotential which in addition to the static interaction also accounts for polarization, absorption, and exchange effects. A full wave treatment of this pseudopotential is then performed. Our ab initio optical-model theory is illustrated by a detailed analysis of the elastic scattering of electrons and positrons by helium and neon atoms for incident energies ranging from 100 to 700 eV. Our theoretical values for electron-helium and electron-neon differential cross sections are in excellent agreement with recent absolute experimental data.