Study of electron scattering by N2O using the polyatomic R-matrix method

We present results of ab initio calculations for electron-N2O scattering using the polyatomic R-matrix method. We consider scattering energies from 0 to 20 eV. Our calculations demonstrate that the low-energy shape resonance just above 2 eV is due to a (2) Pi state of the negative ion. A broad 2 Sigma resonance is also found at higher energy (similar to 8 eV). Calculations are reported for static exchange, static exchange with polarization, and correlated wavefunction levels of approximation. Our calculations are the first to use highly correlated wavefunctions in R-matrix calculations for polyatomic targets, where such a treatment is necessary to get an accurate description of the resonant scattering process. The calculated integral elastic scattering cross section is found to be in good agreement with experimental results.