Elastic scattering of electrons by barium atoms using the distorted wave method

Abstract

Differential and integral cross sections of elastic scattering of electrons by barium atoms at intermediate energies (10 – 200 eV) were calculated using the distorted wave method. Being an elastic scattering both the initial and final distortion potentials were taken as the static potential of a barium atom in the initial state. The distorted waves are determined by the partial wave expansion method by expanding them in terms of spherical harmonics while the radial equation corresponding to distorted waves is evaluated using the Numerov method. A computer program DWBA1, for scattering was modified to perform numerical calculations for scattering and the results obtained are compared with the experimental and theoretical results available. The present integral cross sections are in good qualitative agreement with the experimental results and most of the theoretical results. For energies in the range 30 – 100 eV the present differential cross sections are in satisfactory agreement with the other theoretical and experimental results.