Angle-differential elastic electron scattering off C$_{60}$: A simple semi-empirical theory versus experiment

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a simple semi-empirical model using a square well potential and polarization effects can accurately predict low-energy elastic electron scattering off C$_{60}$, aligning well with experimental data.

Contribution

The study introduces a straightforward semi-empirical approach combining a square well potential with polarization effects for modeling electron-C$_{60}$ scattering.

Findings

Model accurately reproduces experimental scattering cross sections.

Simple potential approach effectively captures complex polarizable target behavior.

Validation against experimental data supports the model's viability.

Abstract

We prove in the present paper that a simple modeling of a complicated highly polarizable C$_{60}$ target by a rectangular (in a radial coordinate) square well potential in combination with the static polarization potential provides a viable approximation for a low-energy elastic electron scattering off this target. The proof is based on the results of the comparison of the calculated angle-differential elastic electron scattering cross section off C$_{60}$ versus corresponding experimental data.