Complex scattering potential – ionization contribution (CSP-ic) method for calculating total ionization cross sections on electron impact

Abstract

In this article, we report calculations of total ionization cross sections, Q ion , for simple atoms (C, N, O, F) and molecules (NO and NH\(_{3})\) of atmospheric interest on electron impact at energies from threshold to 2000 eV. We have employed the complex scattering potential – ionization contribution (CSP-ic) method for the present study. Attempt has been made to improve the method by computing the parameter that involves the ratio of sum of the total excitation cross sections (Σ Q exc ) and total inelastic cross section (Q inel ) at the peak of the inelastic cross section. The present study not only provided a better estimation of the parameter involved in the CSP-ic method but also provided better agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data on the ionization cross sections of the simple atomic and molecular targets studied here.