Analytical approximation of cross sections of collisions of electrons with atoms of inert gases

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of data on the cross sections of elastic and inelastic collisions of electrons
with noble gas atoms. The transport (diffusion) cross section, the excitation and ionization cross sections
are considered. The bibliography on the cross sections of electron-atomic collisions includes many
thousands of works. But the critical analysis of the results of experimental data in the review work is very
difficult due to the fact that the necessary initial data can only be available to the authors of the work. The
errors of the order of 1-3% given in the original works are contrasted with each other, sometimes
differing by 50%. Comparisons of the electron cross sections sets in noble gases was made. For the
selected sets of experimental and theoretical data, optimal analytical formulas are found and
approximation coefficients are selected for them. The obtained semi-empirical formulas allow us to
reproduce the cross-section values for them in a wide range of collision energies from 0.001 to 10000 eV
with an accuracy of several percent.

Key words: electron atomic collisions, transport cross section, excitation cross section, ionization cross
section, approximation of cross sections, noble gases.