State-to-state differential and integral cross sections for vibrational-rotational excitation and elastic scattering of electrons by N ₂ at 5-50 eV: Calculations using extended-basis-set Hartree-Fock wave functions

We have calculated differential, integral, and momentum-transfer cross sections for vibrational-rotational excitation as well as for pure rotational excitation, pure vibrational excitation, and elastic scattering for electron collisions with N₂ at 5-50 eV impact energy. Scattering calculations were carried out in the fixed-nuclei approximation and excitation cross sections obtained using the sudden approximation. The interaction potential used in these calculations consists of three terms: static and local-exchange potentials, calculated from extended-basis-set Hartree-Fock wave functions as functions of internuclear distance, and a semiempirical polarization potential. Two different local exchange potentials were employed. The results are compared to each other, to previous calculations, and to experiment.