The elastic scattering of electrons from molecules: I. Close coupling calculations of integral and differential cross sections

Elastic cross sections, integral and differential, are calculated for using a new set of codes which employ the separable representation of exchange interaction and the density functional (DFT) description of correlation forces. The entire problem is treated within a close-coupling (CC) formulation of the quantum scattering equations given in a single-centre-expansion (SCE) representation. Comparison with experimental data, over a rather broad range of collision energies from 0.1 eV up to 100 eV, provides one of the best overall agreements with experimental findings found thus far by calculations. The effect of correlation forces is discussed in comparison with the exact static-exchange (ESE) results provided by the present approach and by earlier calculations.