Inversion of total cross-section data for electron-molecule and electron-atom scattering

Inverse scattering theory has been applied to construct the interaction potentials from total cross sections as a function of energy. The underlying potentials are assumed to be real and are evaluated using the WKB approximation with phase shifts determined from the total cross-section data from e- -CH4, e- -SiH4, e- -Kr and e- -Xe scattering. The inversion potentials are different to ones by direct calculations but when they are used to recalculate the cross sections, the fit to the data is as good as those found by using the theoretical interactions. 15 refs., 1 tab., 4 figs