Polarization of electrons in screened Coulomb scattering

In this paper the effects of screened-Coulomb scattering on electron polarization are calculated. The results apply to elastic electron scattering by light atoms at moderate energies. The calculation is carried out to second order in αZ; in this order the change in magnitude of the polarization first occurs. For arbitrary initial polarization, the final polarization vector is expressed explicitly as a function of initial polarization, momentum, and scattering angle. The effects of screening on polarization is discussed. In the low energy region, a few hundred eV, there is a significant effect on the output polarization of an input unpolarized beam.