Cross-sections for electron scattering by O-2 at intermediate and high energies, 0.1-10 keV

Cross-section data, both for elastic and inelastic electron collisions with molecular oxygen, in the energy range 0.1-10 keV, have been obtained in th is study by combining theoretical and experimental methods. Accurate total cross-sections (within 3%) have been measured in a transmission beam system for electron energies ranging from 400 to 5500 eV. Differential and integr al elastic cross-sections have been calculated by means of a scattering pot ential method in the framework of the independent atom model at electron en ergies ranging from 0.1 to 10 keV. The consistency of our theoretical and e xperimental results has been confirmed by comparison with previous elastic and ionisation experimental cross-sections. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.