Laser-assisted collisions: The Kroll-Watson formula and bremsstrahlung theory

Recent measurements on CO2-laser-assisted electron-atom collisions have shown large inconsistencies with the Kroll-Watson formula for small-angle scattering. We have carried out a detailed study to compare the predictions of Kroll-Watson theory (for both single and multimode fields) with those of conventional perturbation theory for stimulated free-free transitions. It is found that for E0/2ω2<1, where perturbation theory is valid, there are large differences with the Kroll-Watson theory. Comparisons of experimental variations with respect to scattering angle and electron energy show much better agreement with perturbation theory than with Kroll-Watson theory. A study of the angular variations in perturbation theory shows that use of the open-quote open-quote outgoing close-quote close-quote wave final state gives much better agreement with experiment than does the open-quote open-quote ingoing close-quote close-quote wave final state, which is different from the choice made in early bremsstrahlung theory. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society