A free-parameter theoretical model for describing the electron elastic scattering in water in the Geant4 toolkit

The present work provides an accurate description of the elastic scattering process for low-energy electrons (10 eV–10 keV) in liquid water by means of a free-parameter quantum-mechanical treatment. The calculations are performed in the partial-wave formalism by means of a total interaction potential taking into account a static contribution as well as fine effects like exchange and polarization contributions. The obtained results in terms of singly differential and total cross sections exhibit relatively good agreement with available experimental data (in gaseous water). They have been incorporated into the Geant4 toolkit, which has been recently extended with physics processes for microdosimetry applications in liquid water down to the electronvolt scale. They offer an improved alternative to the semi-empirical and to the screened Rutherford models already available in this very low-energy extension.