Electron Collisions with Laser Cooled and Trapped Metastable Helium Atoms: Total Scattering Cross Sections

摘要

Absolute measurements of total scattering cross sections for low energy (5-70 eV) electrons by metastable helium (2~3 S) atoms are presented. The measurements are performed using a magneto-optical trap which is loaded from a laser-cooled, bright beam of slow He(2~3 S) atoms. The data are compared with predictions from convergent close coupling and R matrix with pseudostate calculations, and we find good agreement between experiment and theory.