Low-energy electron scattering by atomic hydrogen: II. The correlation method

Abstract

Previous work for S-wave scattering of electrons by atomic hydrogen calculated with a correlation method is extended to higher partial waves. The wave function used is more flexible than that with which the earlier results were obtained. With the use of the bound principle, which is satisfied by this method, cross sections are found for the 1s-2s and 1s-2p transitions in the electron-hydrogen-atom system in the energy region between the n = 2 and n = 3 thresholds which appear to have converged. These cross sections can serve as normalization values for experimental results. Comparison with close-coupling results obtained with expansions including three- and six-states shows that, in the energy region concerned, both these methods are acceptable. A new shape resonance in the 1P wave just above the n = 2 threshold is reported.