Time Delay in Electron Collision with a Spherical Target as a Function of the Scattering Angle

Abstract

We have studied the angular time delay in slow-electron elastic scattering by spherical targets as well as the average time delay of electrons in this process. It is demonstrated how the angular time delay is connected to the Eisenbud–Wigner–Smith (EWS) time delay. The specific features of both angular and energy dependencies of these time delays are discussed in detail. The potentialities of the derived general formulas are illustrated by the numerical calculations of the time delays of slow electrons in the potential fields of both absolutely hard-sphere and delta-shell potential well of the same radius. The conducted studies shed more light on the specific features of these time delays.

Keywords

• electron scattering from atoms and molecules
• Eisenbud–Wigner–Smith (EWS) time delay
• angular time delay