Computation of electron-impact rotationally elastic total cross sections for methanol over an extensive range of impact energy (0.1 – 2000 eV)

Abstract

Theoretical rotationally elastic total cross sections for electron scattering from methanol over the incident energy range 0.1--2000 eV are presented. The computation of such cross sections for methanol is reported over such an extended energy range. We have employed two distinct formalisms to compute the cross sections across this energy range; between 0.1 eV and the ionization threshold of the target we have used the ab initio R-matrix method, while at higher energies the spherical complex optical potential method is invoked. The results from both formalisms match quite well at energies where they overlap and hence imply that they are consistent with each other. These total cross-section results are also in very good agreement with available experimental data and earlier theoretical data. The composite methodology employed here is well established and can be used to predict cross sections for other targets where data is scarce or not available.