THE SPIN POLARIZATION OF ELECTRONS ELASTICALLY SCATTERED BY ARGON ATOMS

The Schrodinger equation with real and complex optical potentials has been solved to obtain the degree of spin polarization S(theta) for unp olarized electrons elastically scattered by argon atoms in the 40-300 eV energy range. The effect of the absorption potential on S(theta) is found to be significant only near those scattering angles at which th e degree of polarization attains its maximum or minimum values. The pr esent values of S(theta) with real potential are close to those obtain ed by Nahar and Wadehra by solving the Dirac equation with real potent ial. Our results of S(theta) favour the experimental data of Beerlage et al in comparison with those obtained by Schackert.