B-splineR-matrix-with-pseudostates calculations for electron-impact excitation and ionization of carbon

Abstract

The $B$-spline $R$-matrix (BSR) with pseudostates method is employed to treat electron collisions with carbon atoms. Predictions for elastic scattering, excitation, and ionization are presented for incident energies between threshold and 60 eV. The structure description is further improved compared to a previous BSR calculation by Zatsarinny et al. [Phys. Rev. A 71, 042702 (2005)]. This change in the structure model, together with the inclusion of a large number of pseudostates in the close-coupling expansion, has a major influence on the theoretical predictions, especially at intermediate energies, where many of the excitation cross sections are reduced significantly. Estimates for ionization cross sections are also provided.