SPIN-DEPENDENT EFFECTS IN ELASTIC AND INELASTIC LOW-ENERGY ELECTRON-SCATTERING FROM SODIUM ATOMS

Results of an R-matrix (close-coupling) calculation, including explicitly spin-dependent effects such as the spin-orbit interaction, are compared with those obtained from the 'standard approach' where such effects are neglected. Hence, for the first time, the importance of the relativistic effects is estimated quantitatively for the electron-sodium scattering system. The agreement between the two calculations is very good if both the initial and final projectile energies are large compared with the relevant fine-structure splittings. Experimental evidence about the importance of explicitly spin-dependent forces for this system is confirmed.