On the polarization of electrons by scattering.—II

In a previous paper experiments were described to detect a polarization of a beam of electrons which had suffered large angle deflection from heavy nuclei. The work was carried out to check the theoretical conclusions of Mott, and the experimental conditions followed those laid down by him as closely as possible. A beam of electrons of homogeneous velocity fell on a gold film, sufficiently thin to ensure single scattering, from which they were scattered through 90° to a second film and again scattered through 90° to a Faraday cylinder connected to an electrometer. The second film and Faraday cylinder could rotate about an axis joining the two films, so that the direction of the final beam was either parallel or antiparallel to its original direction.