Screening parameter for elastic scattering of electrons

Abstract

The present work, with its interest focusing on the elastic scattering of energetic electrons, provides a novel formulation that is demonstrated to give accurate values of the screening parameter. This is a matter considered vital in obtaining transport cross-sections, the work herein covering not only a wide range of electron energies popular in applications (1-3000 keV) but also a comprehensively wide range of target atomic numbers (Z: 1-94). Such ability has hitherto not been commonly available in making use of existing formulations. Results from the proposed formula together with comparisons made against previously published results are presented for seventeen representative elements, covering the energy range 1 keV to 3 MeV, providing a representative condensation from the 94 elements for which we have made comparable calculations. The new formulation is seen to offer a viable and accurate approximation, being both simple to apply and devoid of limitations within the bracketed electron energy and target atomic number ranges.