RESPONSE OF METAL-CLUSTERS TO ELASTIC ELECTRON-IMPACT

We perform a theoretical study of the response of neutral and ionized metal clusters to the elastic impact of slow electrons. We center our attention on Na-40 and Na-41(+) closed-shell clusters. A phase-shift a nalysis is performed for both systems. The total cross section for the neutral cluster presents resonances related with the existence of qua sibound states when studied as a function of incident energy. For the ionised cluster we show the calculated ratio of the angular distributi on to the Rutherford differential cross section, near and far from a r esonance. The existence of resonances as well as the associated energi es are very sensitive to the mean interaction potential. As a conseque nce, elastic scattering of slow electrons on clusters could be a usefu l tool in the study of the electronic structure of clusters.