Low-energy electron scattering by C_2HF_5

Abstract

We report elastic and electronically inelastic cross sections for low-energy electron scattering by pentafluoroethane, C_2HF_5. Our calculations were performed using the Schwinger multichannel method. For elastic scattering, we calculated integral, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections for energies from 5 to 50 eV. In the inelastic case, we obtained integral and differential cross sections for electron-impact excitation of the 1 1,3A[prime] and 2 1,3A[prime] excited states at the three-channel level of approximation. At higher energies, the elastic differential cross sections are quite similar to existing theoretical results for C_2F_6. Limited electronic-structure calculations were carried out to explore the dissociation behavior of the excited states.