Total scattering cross section of spin-polarized low-energy electrons in transition metals

We analyze the low-energy (5-50 eV) electron inelastic mean free path in transition metals in the framework of a simple density-of-state model. We establish relations between the scattering cross section and the hole numbers. This allows us to disentangle the different electron-electron scattering channels and, using recently available experimental data, to probe the energy dependence of the exchange matrix element. A critical review of the literature leads us to propose numerical mean free path expressions, relevant for several materials.