Various total cross sections for scattering of electrons by phosphorous triflouride (${\mathrm{PF}}_3$) using the $R$-matrix method for incident energies from 0.1$–$15 eV and using spherical complex optical potential formalism beyond ionization threshold of target to 5000 eV are reported. We performed close-coupling calculations using static exchange plus polarization model. We employed different target models in order to study their relative dependence on the total cross sections. Three important structures are revealed in the total-cross-section curve: one that corresponds to the Ramsauer-Townsend minimum at 0.33 eV, the second is a strong maximum of 100 Å${}^2$ at 1 eV, the third is around 11 eV corresponding to negative ion formation as predicted by earlier study. The total ionization cross sections are computed using the complex scattering potential ionization contribution method and the binary encounter Bethe method. The electronic-excitation cross sections, momentum-transfer cross sections, and differential and ionization cross sections are our maiden efforts for this system. We have compared our total-cross-section results with available theoretical and experimental results.

• Received 28 March 2014
• Revised 14 May 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.062715