DIFFERENTIAL CROSS-SECTION AND MEAN FREE-PATH FOR THE ELASTIC-SCATTERING OF LOW-ENERGY PROTONS IN SOLIDS USING THE PARTIAL-WAVE METHOD

An investigation is made of the elastic scattering of protons in solids in the low-energy range by use of the method of partial waves with the atomic potential of solid atoms being calculated using the muffin-tin approximation. The resulting differential cross-sections never diverge near zero scattering angles showing weak forward scattering and oscillating behavior at small scattering angles. The mean free path is approximately independent of energy and is close to the average atomic distance. In addition, a Monte Carlo simulation of the transport of protons in C, Al, and Cu is carried out by using the present cross-section (potential). The result shows only small changes in the trajectory and back-scattering yield from those obtained by using the well-known Ziegler-Biersack-Littmark potential, in spite of large differences between the scattering properties of the two potentials.