TOTAL CROSS-SECTIONS FOR ELECTRON-SCATTERING FROM WELL-KNOWN AND EXOTIC MOLECULES

In this review paper, scattering of intermediate to high energy electr ons on well-known as well as exotic molecular targets is considered. T he 'additivity rule' and its modifications for calculating various tot al cross sections are discussed against the background of an extensive experimental data. The theory succeeds at high impact energies (E-i > 100 eV). Tentative upper and lower limits of e-molecule ionization cr oss sections are identified. Fitting formulas to represent total cross sections as functions of energy are also given.