Spin-dependent electron-atom scattering - a detailed test of atomic collision theory

In recent years, much progress has been made in the experimental and theoretical studies of atomic collision processes. The use of polarized collision partners has enabled experimentalists to perform very detailed tests of theoretical models, particularly with regard to the description of spin-dependent effects such as electron exchange or the spin-orbit interactions. Besides the development of the general theoretical formulation of spin-dependent electron-atom collisions - predominantly in terms of the density matrix formalism - much progress has also been made in the numerical treatment of such processes. In particular, the non-perturbative R-matrix (close-coupling) method and the open-quotes Distorted Wave Born Approximationclose quotes (DWBA), based on the Born series expansion of the T-operator have been applied very successfully. The presentation will begin with an outline of the density matrix formalism and its use to describe several, apparently different, atomic collision processes in a common framework. Next, the origin of spin-dependence in these collisions will be investigated, with particular emphasis on the so-called open-quotes fine-structure effectclose quotes where explicitly spin-dependent terms in the projectile-target interaction (such as the spin-orbit interaction) are assumed to be negligible during the collision process. Selected results for elastic and inelastic (including ionization) electron scattering from various targets will be presented and compared with recent experimental data