Algebraic-eikonal approach to electron-molecule scattering. III. Triatomic molecules

The algebraic-eikonal approach to electron-molecule scattering is extended to triatomic molecules. In addition to the dipole interaction we include the polarization potential, adopting a distorted-wave eikonal approximation in which the dipole interaction is still treated in the eikonal approximation. We derive a simple expression for the dipole transition matrix elements which is numerically very effective. Finally, our method is applied to calculate the differential cross section for scattering electrons from HCN.