Elastic and total cross-sections for electron scattering by acetylene in the intermediate energy range

We present a joint theoretical-experimental study on electron scattering by C₂H₂ in the intermediate energy range. We report calculated elastic differential, integral, and momentum-transfer as well as total (elastic + inelastic) and absorption cross-sections at impact energies ranging from 10 to 500 eV. Also, experimental absolute elastic cross-sections are reported in the (50-500)-eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the electron-molecule interaction dynamics. The iterative Schwinger variational method, combined with the distorted-wave approximation, is used to solve the scattering equations. Experimentally, the angular distributions of the scattered electrons are converted to absolute cross-sections using the relative flow technique. The comparison of our calculated with our measured results, as well as with other experimental and theoretical data available in the literature, is encouraging.Received: 26 August 2004, Published online: 5 October 2004PACS: 34.80.Bm Elastic scattering of electrons by atoms and molecules