Scattering of Electrons by C, N, O, N+, O+, and O++

Abstract

The formulation given by Smith et al., for transitions induced by electron impact among ground-state terms of atoms or ions with configurations $2p^q$ or $3p^q$, is corrected. Close-coupling equations are solved numerically for electrons incident on C, N, O, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}^{++}$. Shape resonances are found in low-energy elastic scattering by ground-state carbon and nitrogen atoms. Peaks in electron-atom inelastic cross sections are found to occur at lower energies than those calculated by Smith et al., and the magnitude of the cross sections is lower at high energies. Collision strengths for electron scattering by ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}^{++}$ are presented.