Scattering of e $$^\pm $$ ± off silver atom over the energy range 1 eV–1 MeV

The present work reports the calculations of the differential cross sections (DCSs) along-with the critical minima (CM) and the spin polarization or Sherman function for the scattering of electrons and positrons by atomic silver over the incident energies $$1\ \hbox {eV}\ -1\ \hbox {MeV}$$ using the Dirac relativistic wave equation in the framework of the optical potential model (OPM). The energy dependence of the integral elastic cross sections (IECSs), the momentum transfer cross sections (MTCSs), the viscosity cross sections (VCSs), the inelastic cross sections (INCSs), the total ionization cross sections (TICSs) and the total cross sections (TCSs) are also calculated and discussed. The predicted results are compared with the available experimental and theoretical works found in the literature. The DCSs as well as the Sherman functions and other two spin asymmetry parameters $$U(\theta )$$ and $$T(\theta )$$ are calculated at some energies for the first time in this study. Eleven critical minima in the DCSs for $$e^{-}-$$ Ag scattering are revealed, the energy and angular positions of which are discussed. We have found 22 maximum polarization points in the vicinity of CM for $$e^{-}-$$ Ag collision. Among these 22 points, 21 satisfy the condition of total polarization. So far as we are concerned, the present work is the first one for the calculation of CMs in the DCSs for $$e^{-}-$$ Ag scattering. drafts