Second-order distorted-wave study for low- and intermediate-energy elastic electron scattering by the hydrogen molecule

We report a second-order distorted-wave study for elastic electron-hydrogen molecule collisions in the low- and intermediate-energy range. In this study, the first-order T-matrix elements as well as the distorted wavefunctions were generated in the static-exchange potential of the ground-state target and a set of 18 pseudostates is used to calculate second-order T-matrix elements. Differential and integral cross sections were calculated in the 1-40 eV scattering energy range. The comparison of our calculated results with some recent experimental and theoretical results is encouraging. (author)