POLARIZATION AND EXCHANGE EFFECTS IN LOW-ENERGY ELECTRON-H2 SCATTERING

The scattering formalism of Arthurs and Dalgarno, as generalized by Ardill and Davison, is used to take account of exchange in the scattering of slow electrons by molecular hydrogen. Adiabatic polarization terms are included in the direct potential. Exchange and polarization effects on elastic and 0 2 and 1 3 rotational excitation of H2 by electron impact are found to be important for energies less than 10 eV. In the energy ranges where measurements and theory overlap, good agreement is obtained for total and differential cross sections, as well as for 0 2 and 1 3 rotational excitation cross sections. © 1969 The American Physical Society.