Collisions of Electrons with Atoms and Molecules

This book is a short outline of the present state of the theory of electron collisions with atomic particles - atoms, molecules and ions. It is addressed to those who by nature of their work need detailed information about the cross sections of various processes of electron collisions with atomic particles: experimentalists working in plasma physics, optics, quantum electronics, atmospheric and space physics, etc. Some of the cross sections have been measured. But in many important cases the only source of information is theoretical calcu- lation. The numerous theoretical papers dealing with electronic collision processes contain various approximations. The inter- relation between them and the level of their accuracy is often diffi- cult to understand without a systematic study of the theory of atomic collisions, not to mention that theoretical considerations are necessary for the consistent interpretation of experimental results. The main constituents of the book are: 1. General theory with special emphasis on the topics most impor- tant for understanding and discussing electron collisions with atomic particles.