Total cross sections for electron scattering by molecular hydrogen

Total cross sections for electron scattering by H 2 are obtained for impact energies ranging from 25 to 750 eV. The method used is a linearisation of the Ramsauer-type experiment, which enables good angular and energy resolution; the accuracy obtained in the total cross sections is better than 4%. The authors compare their results with existing experimental data of other groups in this energy range. By means of analysis of theories and experiments on total cross sections for elastic scattering, excitation and ionisation the authors evaluate a set of semi-empirical total cross sections from 20 up to 2000 eV impact energy, which are accurate to about 5% over most of this energy interval. In the overlapping range the authors find excellent agreement of the data obtained thus with our experimental results.