Relativistic study on the scattering of electrons and positrons from atomic iron at energies 1  eV – 10 keV

Abstract

This paper reports on the differential, integral, momentum transfer and viscosity cross sections along with spin polarisation for elastically scattered electrons and positrons from iron atoms in the incident energy ($E_i$) range $1\le E_i\le {10}^4$ eV. In addition, we report here systematically the details of the critical minima in the elastic differential cross sections, and the absorption and total cross sections. An optical model using a complex optical potential, composed of static, exchange, polarisation and imaginary terms, is used to solve the Dirac relativistic equation in partial-wave analysis. A comparison of our evaluated cross sections with the available experimental data and other theoretical findings shows a reasonable agreement over the studied energy range.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Elastic electron and positron scattering
• optical potential
• relativistic Dirac partial wave analysis
• spin asymmetry
• critical minima

Acknowledgments

A. K. F. Haque would like to thank TWAS-UNISCO associateship scheme for partial funding. B. C. Saha thankfully acknowledges the partial support of NNSA.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.