On the second Born approximation for laser-assisted electron-atom collisions

The differential cross section for electron-hydrogen atom collisions in the presence of a CO(2) laser field is analysed as a function of the incident electron energy. We show that the criticism of the second Born treatment of elastic scattering and excitation by fast electrons is unjustified for various geometrical configurations. Detailed calculations of the scattering amplitudes are performed by using the Sturmian basis expansion.