Influence of Electron Exchange and Quantum Shielding on the Elastic Collisions in Quantum Plasmas

Abstract

The influence of electron exchange and quantum shielding on the elastic electron-ion collision is investigated in degenerate quantum plasmas. The second-order eikonal method and effective screened potential are employed to obtain the scattering phase shift and collision cross section as functions of the impact parameter, collision energy, electron-exchange parameter, Fermi energy, and plasmon energy. It is found that the electron-exchange effect enhances the eikonal scattering phase shift as well as the eikonal collision cross section in quantum plasmas. The maximum position of the differential eikonal collision cross section is found to be receded from the collision center with an increase of the electron-exchange effect. It is interesting to note that the influence of the electron exchange on the eikonal collision cross section decreases with increasing collision energy. It is also found that the eikonal collision cross section decreases with an increase of the plasmon energy and, however, increases with increasing Fermi energy.