Motion of Electrons in Liquid Argon

Abstract

The scattering of electrons moving through nonpolar liquids is discussed. The Hartree field of an atom is assumed not to change on passing from gas to liquid. The screening of the long-range polarization potential is given by a self-consistent local field, which is found in terms of the pair correlation function. A microscopic dielectric function follows as a byproduct. The overlap of atomic force fields in the liquid is handled by the use of an effective potential suggested by Cohen. Detailed calculations are made for electrons in liquid argon. The principal result is that the Ramsauer minimum no longer exists in the liquid. The drift velocity in a steady electric field is found from the solution of the Boltzmann equation given by Cohen and Lekner. Agreement between experiment and theory is good.