DWBA theory for elastic scattering of polarized electrons from heavy unpolarized nuclei.

Differential cross sections and spin asymmetries for the elastic scattering of spin-polarized electrons from inert spin- nuclei are calculated within the distorted-wave (DW) Born approximation. This is achieved by means of a coherent superposition of the electric and magnetic (M1) transition amplitudes, using Dirac eigenfunctions for the electronic scattering states throughout. For heavy nuclei (Z ≳ 40), high collision energies and backward scattering angles considerable deviations occur from previous DW plane-wave calculations where the magnetic transition is calculated within the Born approximation. For electrons spin-polarized perpendicular to the beam direction the spin asymmetry is quenched when magnetic scattering becomes dominant. Predictions are made for 50–200 MeV electrons scattering from 15N, 89Y and 207Pb nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]