$R$-matrix calculations of electron collisions with lithium atom at low energies

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed R-matrix calculations of low-energy electron collisions with lithium, revealing new resonances and providing accurate phase shifts that agree with previous studies.

Contribution

It introduces new low-energy resonance findings and enhances the understanding of lithium electron collision phase shifts using R-matrix methods.

Findings

Identification of two new resonances below the 3s threshold.

Accurate analysis of the $^3P^o$ phase shift near threshold.

Excellent agreement with previous theoretical phase shift calculations.

Abstract

$R$-matrix calculations of the electron collisions with lithium atom at energies below the $3s$ excitation threshold are presented. The $^1S^e$, $^3S^e$ and $^1P^o$ phase shifts calculated in the near-threshold energy range are in excellent agreement with previous theoretical studies. The threshold behavior of the $^3P^o$ phase shift is accurately analyzed along with the resonance located at the scattering energy $\sim60$ meV. The phase shifts and cross sections calculated here show two resonances below the $3s$ threshold that have not been previously reported.