Modified effective-range theory for low energy e-N2 scattering

TL;DR

This paper extends the Modified-Effective Range Theory to low-energy electron-N2 scattering by incorporating exact solutions for long-range potentials, improving predictions of cross sections and resonances up to a few eV.

Contribution

The work introduces an exact analytical approach within MERT for long-range potentials, enhancing its applicability to energies up to a few eV for electron-N2 collisions.

Findings

Accurately reproduces low-energy cross sections

Predicts shape resonances slightly higher than experimental values

Shows quadrupole potential effects are negligible for N2

Abstract

We analyze the low-energy e-N2 collisions within the framework of the Modified-Effective Range Theory (MERT) for the long-range potentials, developed by O'Malley, Spruch and Rosenberg [Journal of Math. Phys. 2, 491 (1961)]. In comparison to the traditional MERT we do not expand the total cross-section in the series of the incident momentum \hbar k, but instead we apply the exact analytical solutions of the Schroedinger equation for the long-range polarization potential, as proposed in the original formulation of O'Malley et al. This extends the applicability of MERT up to few eV regime, as we confirm using some simplified model potential of the electron-molecule interaction. The parameters of the effective-range expansion (i.e. the scattering length and the effective range) are determined from experimental, integral elastic cross sections in the 0.1 - 1.0 eV energy range by fitting procedure. Surprisingly, our treatment predicts a shape resonance that appears slightly higher than experimentally well known resonance in the total cross section. Agreement with the experimentally observed shape-resonance can be improved by assuming the position of the resonance in a given partial wave. Influence of the quadrupole potential on resonances is also discussed: we show that it can be disregarded for N2. In conclusion, the modified-effective range formalism treating the long-range part of the potential in an exact way, reproduces well both the very low-energy behavior of the integral cross section as well as the presence of resonances in the few eV range.