Effect of electron correlation in the target wavefunction on electron-molecule scattering

Elastic scattering cross sections for electron scattering by N₂ have been calculated in the static-plus-local-exchange model using two different target wavefunctions: Hartree-Fock (HF) and multi-configuration self-consistent-field first-order configuration interaction (MCSCF-FOCI). The range of impact energy considered is 1.5-30 eV. Inclusion of electron correlation in the target wavefunction changes the position of the Pi _g low-energy resonance by about 0.5 eV. Non-resonant partial cross sections typically change by 2% at the equilibrium internuclear separation but sometimes more (up to 26% at the equilibrium internuclear distance and even more at stretched geometries).