Electron collisions with atoms and molecules for plasma-modeling applications

We present a summary of cross sections for electron scattering on atoms and molecules of interest in fusion and astrophysical plasma-modeling applications, calculated using the atomic and molecular convergent close-coupling (CCC) methods. Accurate collisional-radiative modeling requires the input of cross sections for numerous processes, including elastic scattering, ionization, and excitation, considering a large number of different initial and final states. For molecules, resolution in the vibrational and rotational levels is often required.

Over the last few decades, the CCC method has been established as one of the world's most accurate techniques for calculating collision cross sections, with its particular strength in being able to solve the scattering equations over the entire incident energy range for most processes of practical interest. The application to scattering on molecules with a focus on calculating rovibrationally-resolved cross sections has led to the largest set of collision data ever produced for any scattering system.

In this poster we showcase results for electron collisions with atomic and molecular hydrogen, as well as the H₂⁺, HeH⁺, and LiH molecules, with examples of applications in fusion and astrophysical plasma models. Comparisons are made with previous data, wherever available. However, the majority of data we have produced is the first of its kind.