Correlation of the total cross section for electron scattering by molecules with 10–22 electrons, and some molecular parameters at intermediate energies

Accurate experimental values of the total cross section (σ_T) for electron scattering by molecules (CH₄, NH₃, N₂, CO and CO₂) in the energy range 0.5 to 5 keV have been analysed to obtain correlations with molecular properties. A formula for σ_T, as a function of the number of target electrons and molecular polarizabilities, has been deduced. This empirical expression reproduces to within 6% our experimental results for the abovementioned molecules and has been used to obtain results for other molecular targets with 10 to 22 electrons. Total cross sections show reasonable agreement with the experimental and theoretical data for this energy range.