Vibrationally elastic e--H2O scattering at intermediate energies

Vibrationally elastic total cross-sections of e--H2O scattering are calculated at intermediate energies Ei = 10-300 eV. The interaction potentials are treated in spherical models. The dipole rotational excitation, which is significant but not dominant above 10 eV, is treated incoherently. Effects of electronic excitation-ionization, significant above 30 eV or so, are considered through a complex optical potential. A dynamically distorted charge-density is employed to calculate the imaginary part of the complex potential. Comparisons are made with recent theoretical and experimental data. The mutual agreement is better in total cross-sections than in differential cross-sections. (author). 18 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs