Angle-resolved ratios of the separate triplet and singlet spin channel cross sections have been measured for elastic scattering of spin-polarized electrons from optically pumped spin-polarized sodium atoms. The triplet-to-singlet ratios are reported at incident energies of 4.1, 10.0, and 20.0 eV for scattering angles from 20° to 140°. The data demonstrate that spin-exchange scattering plays an important role in the description of electron scattering from sodium at these energies. Comparisons are made with the results of several close-coupling theoretical calculations.

• Received 5 November 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.47.3000