Cross sections for electron scattering by ethane in the low- and intermediate-energy ranges

We present a joint theoretical-experimental study on electron scattering by ethane (C2H6) in the low-and intermediate-energy ranges. Calculated elastic differential, integral and momentum transfer as well as total (elastic + inelastic) and total absorption cross sections are reported for impact energies ranging from 1 to 500 eV. Also, experimental absolute elastic cross sections are reported in the 40-500 eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the electron-molecule interaction dynamics. A theoretical method based on the single-centre-expansion close-coupling framework and corrected by the Pade approximant technique is used to solve the scattering equations. The experimental angular distributions of the scattered electrons are converted to absolute cross sections using the relative flow technique. The comparison of our calculated results with our measured results, as well as with other experimental and theoretical data available in the literature, is encouraging.