Time delay in electron collision with a spherical target as a function of the scattering angle

TL;DR

This paper investigates the angular and average time delays in slow-electron elastic scattering by spherical targets, linking them to the Eisenbud-Wigner-Smith delay and illustrating findings with numerical calculations.

Contribution

It introduces general formulas connecting angular time delay to EWS delay and applies them to specific potential models, providing new insights into electron scattering delays.

Findings

Angular time delay is connected to EWS delay.

Numerical calculations illustrate delay features for hard sphere and delta-shell potentials.

Detailed analysis of energy and angular dependence of delays.

Abstract

We have studied the angular time delay in slow-electron elastic scattering by spherical targets as well as the average time delay of electrons in this process. It is demonstrated how the angular time delay is connected to the Eisenbud-Wigner-Smith (EWS) time delay. The specific features of both angular and energy dependences of these time delays are discussed in detail. The potentialities of the derived general formulas are illustrated by the numerical calculations of the time delays of slow electrons in the potential fields of both absolutely hard sphere and delta-shell potential well of the same radius. The studies conducted shed more light on the specific features of these time delays.