Measurements of total cross sections for positron-K and-Rb scattering

Abstract

A modification of the apparatus that we have been using to measure absolute total cross sections (Q _T′s) for positron and electron scattering by alkali metal atoms has enabled us to more easily obtainQ _T′s at low energies (<10 eV). Our positron-K and-RbQ _T measurements now extend from 1 to 98 eV and we have made the correspondingQ _T measurements for electrons in the same system using the same technique (a beam transmission technique). Our measured positron-K and-RbQ _T values show a peak in the vicinity of 6 eV and decrease substantially as the positron energy is reduced below 6 eV, in sharp contrast to the results obtained in recent 5-state close-coupling approximation calculations. At higher energies (above 10 eV), we have found that the same calculations are in quite good agreement with our measured positron-K and-RbQ _T′s. Our measurements of the correspondingQ _T′s for electrons below 10 eV do not show a peak, but rather continue to increase as the energy is decreased.