Electron impact total (elastic + inelastic) cross-sections of C, N and O atoms amd their simple molecules

Total (elastic + inelastic) cross-sections for electron scattering from C, N, O atoms and their simple molecules are studied theoretically. The e--C, N, O atomic calculations are done in the complex optical potential approach. To study the electron scattering from O2, N2, CO, NO, CN, C2 as well as CO2, N2O, NO2 and O3 targets, we have adopted an additivity rule, wherein the molecular cross-section is an incoherent sum of the cross-sections of the constituent atoms. The cross-sections of C, N and O atoms are presented at incident energies Ei = 10-1000 eV, the molecular cross-sections are presented at Ei = 100-1000 eV. The reliability of the additivity rule is discussed against the background of experimental data. (orig.)