Electron-atom scattering at low and intermediate energies using a pseudo-state R-matrix basis

The use of a pseudo-state expansion within the standard low-energy R-matrix framework to facilitate the study of electron scattering by complex atoms and ions at both low and intermediate energies is discussed. Electron scattering from atomic hydrogen is considered as an example, and results for elastic scattering phase shifts and excitation cross sections are found to be in excellent agreement with recent IERM results in these energy regions. The advantage of this procedure is that existing computer codes, which have been developed over many years, can be directly extended to study electron scattering from a general N-electron target atom or ion.