Theory of electronically inelastic scattering of electrons by molecules

We discuss a multichannel formulation of the Schwinger and a related variational principle (of one order higher than the Schwinger principle) in a form suitable for application to the scattering of low-energy electrons by both linear and nonlinear molecules. The theory includes the effects of polarization straightforwardly and should be particularly useful for obtaining electronically inelastic cross sections. An expansion of the trial scattering wave function in a discrete basis is possible. With certain choices for these basis functions this feature can be particularly advantageous.