Extrapolated model potential for low-energy scattering of electrons from inert gas atoms, and Be, Mg, Zn, Cd, Hg

We have developed a model, l-dependent potential to describe the interaction of an electron with inert gas atoms, and Be, Mg, Zn, Cd, Hg, and their isoelectronic sequences. This potential is adjusted so as to produce bound states with experimental binding energies in isoelectronic sequences of Li I, Na I, K I, Rb I, Cs I and B I, Al I, Ga I, In I, Tl I, and extrapolated to get a potential for the interaction of an electron with inert gas atoms, and with Be, Mg, Zn, Cd, Hg. It provides reliable phase shifts and cross sections for e-inert gas atom, e-Be, e-Mg, e-Zn, e-Cd, e-Hg scattering. Particularly interesting are the signs of the scattering lengths, the changes in the signs of the s-wave phase shifts, and p-wave shape resonances at low energies. (orig.)