Vibrational excitation of CF₄by electron impact: a computational analysis

The vibrationally inelastic cross sections are computed for the ν 1 and ν 3 modes of CF 4 using the quantum mechanical adiabatic nuclear vibrations approximation for the dynamics and using a nonempirical local interaction potential for electrons as projectiles. The results from electron excitation are compared with available, albeit indirect, experimental data. The calculations confirm the dominance of the ν 3 mode at energies below the electronic excitation as the main channel for vibrational heating of CF 4 by electron impact.