Random-phase approximation to dynamical polarisation effects in e--molecule scattering

Abstract
Dynamical polarisation effects in e--molecule (atom) scattering are expressed in terms of a new formulation of the random-phase approximation (RPA). The theory simply requires the solution of single-particle (Hartree-Fock-type) equations and incorporates the contribution of triplet excited states in the dynamics. A numerical application to the e--H2 system is shown to be in excellent agreement with both experimental results and theoretical values in the literature.