Electron-molecule interactions. II. Scattering by closed-shell diatomic molecules

Abstract

For pt. I see ibid. vol. 3, no. 5, 636 (1970). The theory of electron scattering by closed-shell diatomic molecules, assuming that the molecule is constrained to be in its ground electronic state, is developed. To simplify the analysis it is assumed that the molecule does not vibrate or rotate during the collision and it is then shown how rotational excitation cross sections may be obtained from the asymptotic form of the scattered electron wave function. A general computer code based on this formalism and using single-centre wave functions has been written and it used to study e^--N₂ collisions at low energies. A low energy ² Pi _g resonance is found in agreement with recent experiments.