Angular Dichroism in (e, 2e) Electron Scattering Processes

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to investigate hydrogen in its ground (1S) and excited (3S) states undergoing ionization as a result of being impacted by electrons and provide a comparison of the DDCS for the two states. Through the application of multiple scattering theory to compute the DDCS, an emphasis has been placed on the influence of the initial quantum state upon the cross section for ionization and the angular distribution of the outgoing electrons. A comprehensive multiple scattering approach has been utilized to model the interaction between the incident electron and hydrogen atom, including elastic and inelastic scattering processes. Results obtained from our study have demonstrated significant differences in the threshold energy for ionization and the angular scattering patterns between the ground and excited states of hydrogen. These results illustrate the unique nature of the scattering behavior associated with the hydrogen atom in each electronic state and indicate the critical influence of the electronic state of the hydrogen atom upon the ionization process. Consequently, this research has substantially advanced the theoretical comprehension of ionization in atomic systems and offers a more precise model that can enhance theoretical frameworks and experimental data in atomic and plasma physics, particularly regarding low-energy electron-atom collisions.