Differential cross sections from classical perturbation scattering theory. I. ion—dipole scattering

The formalism for calculating differential cross sections for atom—molecule scattering using classical perturbation scattering theory (CPST) is developed. The results are applied to the scattering of an ion by a dipolar molecule. The interaction potential used in the calculation consists of the ion—dipole and ion—induced dipole terms in the long-range expansion of the potential. Various approximate methods for calculating differential cross sections are also considered.