Positron scattering by potassium

Coupled-state calculations in a K(4s,4p,5s,5p,3d) + Ps(1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,3d) approximation are reported for positron scattering by ground-state potassium in the energy range 0.5 - 60.0 eV. Comparison is made with the earlier work of Hewitt and co-workers in a K(4s,4p,5s,5p) + Ps(1s,2s,2p) approximation. For the first time cross sections for positronium formation in n = 3 states are obtained. We support the conclusion of Hewitt et al that above about 4 eV positronium formation is mainly into excited states, although we disagree significantly on the distribution of the excited state population. Fairly good agreement is obtained with the measurements of Zhou and co-workers for total positronium formation when scaling is used to estimate the amount of positronium in states with . Our cross sections for elastic scattering, 4s - 4p, 4s - 5s and 4s - 5p excitation of potassium are in relatively good agreement with those of Hewitt and co-workers but our calculations also emphasize the importance of the 4s - 3d excitation which is omitted in their approximation. Atom excitation to the n = 5 level is found to be a relatively minor process. Good agreement is obtained with the total cross section measurements of Kwan and co-workers and Parikh and co-workers when these are normalized upwards by 10% and corrections made for near forward elastic scattering. This upward normalization lies within the quoted overall 21% error on the measurements. Below 4 eV the calculated total cross section is dominated by elastic scattering while at high energies 4s - 4p excitation is the main contributor. In the vicinity of 6 eV, and consistent with the measurements of Parikh and co-workers, the total cross section displays a pronounced peak which derives largely, although not totally, from positronium formation. Positronium formation is not important above about 30 eV.