Absolute triple differential cross sections for electron impact ionization of helium: Comparison between experimental and theoretical results at 256 eV collision energy

Triple differential cross sections have been measured for electron impact ionization of helium at 256 eV collision energy, 3 eV energy of the slow outgoing electrons and scattering angles of the fast outgoing electrons of 4°, 6°, 8°, and 10°. The data have been put on absolute scale by extrapolating the generalized oscillator strength to zero momentum transfer. In this optical limit the triple differential cross sections can be normalized by using the well-known cross sections for photoionization. The experimental data are compared with results of different theoretical approaches. For nearly all calculated curves rather good agreement with the measurements is obtained for the relative shape of the binary peak, while often its absolute cross section is overestimated. Concerning the recoil peak, larger discrepancies are found with respect to both, relative shapes and cross sections. A perceptible improvement can be stated for calculations which have been performed in a distorted wave approximation and in second Born approximation.