Exploring the Barkas effect with keV-electron scattering

The energy loss of fast ions at close collision is mainly due to electron-ion collisions. The electrons are approximately stationary and they collide with a fast-moving ion. Here we study the same collision experimentally, in a reference system where the ions (or atoms) are stationary and interacting with keV electrons. Scattering cross sections under these conditions deviate from Rutherford, and we link these deviations, at higher energies, to the Z(3) contributions to the electronic stopping and the related Barkas effect and, at lower energies, also to quantum interference. The present measurements are well described by partial-wave calculations of the elastic cross section of electrons scattering from atoms. Encouraged by this agreement we use these calculations to estimate the Barkas factor for all elements and many energies. A universal curve for the Barkas factor due to close collisions is obtained for neutral projectiles and similar curves with smaller magnitude are found for ions.