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The effect of exchange on the polarisation of electrons by double scattering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

R. A. Smith
Affiliation:
Emmanuel College

Extract

The most outstanding discrepancy between experiment and Dirac's theory of the electron is at present that shown by Dymond's experiments on the polarisation of beams of electrons by double scattering. It has been shown by Mott, using Dirac's relativistic wave equation, that one would expect a 15% asymmetry of beams of 140 k.v. electrons scattered twice at 90° by gold. The experiments of Dymond referred to above show that there cannot be more than 1% asymmetry. Several attempts have been made to explain this discrepancy, but without success. (For an account of these see Dymond's paper II.) One possibility which has not yet been investigated is that of exchange between the incident electron and the electrons of the struck atom. It is evident that only elastic exchange need be considered, since the probability of excitation of any form is known to be small. Only exchange with the K and L shells may be expected to give any appreciable effect.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1934

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References

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