The total elastic cross section for electron scattering from SF6

Absolute differential cross sections for elastic scattering of electrons fr om SF6 have been measured at 11 energies between 2.7 and 75 eV for scatteri ng angles between 10 and 180 degrees. The differential measurements use, fo r the first time, the magnetic angle-changing technique of Read and Channin g in combination with the relative flow technique to obtain absolute elasti c scattering cross sections at backward angles. These cross sections have b een extrapolated in the forward direction to enable the integral elastic cr oss section to be calculated. The cross section derived from this process i s in excellent agreement with that proposed recently by Christophorou et al and supports their hypothesis that several of the earlier measurements und erestimate the integral elastic cross section between 5 and 75 eV.