Abstract
The elastic scattering of electrons by silane (SiH4) is investigated theoretically in the energy range 0.1 to 10 eV. The authors employ a model potential approach in which the total optical potential is a sum of three interactions, namely static, exchange and polarisation. The static potential is generated from silane near-Hartree-Fock single centre wavefunctions, while the exchange effects are included approximately through the electron-gas model. For the polarisation potential the authors use two models, a simple parametric form and the parameter-free form of Jain and Thompson (1982). Results are given for total and momentum transfer cross sections and show a Ramsauer-Townsend behaviour, with a minimum below 0.5 eV, and a maximum in the range 2-4 eV. The maximum is due to a shape resonance in the T2 scattering state and is mainly d wave. The results are compared with experiment.