Complex-correlation Kohn T-matrix method of calculating total and elastic cross sections: Electron-hydrogen elastic scattering - art. no. 032709

We report on a study of electron-hydrogen scattering using a method [Bhatia , Schneider, and Temkin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 1936 (1993)] that allows for the ab initio calculation of total and elastic cross sections at higher ene rgies. In its general form the method uses complex-"radial" correlation fun ctions, in a (Kohn) T-matrix formalism. The complex-correlation Kohn T-matr ix method is reviewed in the context of electron-hydrogen scattering, inclu ding the derivation of the equation for the (complex) scattering function, and the extraction of the scattering information from the latter. The calcu lation reported here is restricted to S waves in the elastic region, where the correlation functions can be taken, without loss of generality, to be r eal. Phase shifts are calculated using Hylleraas-type correlation functions with up to 95 terms. Results are rigorous lower bounds; they are in genera l agreement with those of Schwartz [Phys. Rev. 124, 1468 (1961)], but they are more accurate and outside his error bounds at a couple of energies.