Theoretical Elastic Collision Frequency between Electrons and Neutral Atoms in a Cesium Plasma

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Abstract
The elastic scattering cross sections and momentum transfer cross sections for the collisions of low-energy electrons with atomic cesium have been calculated by the method of phase shifts. The scattering potential, used in the Schrödinger equation, is constructed from one-electron-type wave functions with appropriate screening constants. In addition to the potential arising because of the atomic electrons, a polarization potential is also used; the effect of exchange is considered only indirectly. This preliminary analysis reproduces the shape of the cross section vs energy curves as reported in some experiments but does not give detailed agreement. The theoretical cross sections are averaged over a Boltzmann distribution of electronic energies in the temperature range from 1000 to 10 000°K. Averaged values of the collision (for momentum transfer) frequency between electrons and cesium atoms are also calculated. Results are presented both in graphical and tabular form.