Calculations of cross sections for electron (${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{-}}$) and positron (${\mathit{e}}^{+}$) scattering from ground-state He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe at projectile energies below the lowest inelastic thresholds are presented. The main focus in the present work is on the differential cross sections, since angular distributions depend sensitively on the choice of interaction potentials used in the calculations. A part of the interaction potential used in the calculations includes a parameter-free correlation-polarization potential which is (a) based on physical ideas of what a correlation-polarization potential should be, (b) different for various target gases, and (c) distinct for electron and positron scattering. The present calculations of differential cross sections predict the locations of the principal maxima and minima with good accuracy and the shapes of the calculated differential cross-section curves compare quite well with available experimental cross sections.

• Received 21 March 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.4859