Left—right asymmetry for scattering of polarized electrons from thallium and lead atoms

Geesmann H, Bartsch M, Hanne G, Kessler J

Abstract

Polarized electrons were scattered elastically and inelastically from unpolarized thallium and lead atoms. The left-right scattering asymmetry has been measured for energies ranging from 2.5 to 14 eV at scattering angles between 35° and 125°. The influence of the electronic configuration of the valence electrons on the results of the asymmetry function is discussed. For elastic collisions no clear-cut conclusions about the significance of the ‘fine-structure’ effect compared with the Mott scattering effect can be drawn. Numerical results from R-matrix calculations show good agreement with the experimental data for thallium, whereas the theoretical predictions for lead are less satisfactory. © 1991 IOP Publishing Ltd.