Elastic electron-molecule scattering cross sections: Sulphur hexafluoride and benzene

Absolute differential cross sections for elastic scattering of electrons from two non-polar molecules with high polarizabilities, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and benzene (C6H6) have been measured: SF6 at 11 incident energies between 2.7 and 75 eV and scattering angles between 10 degrees and 180 degrees and C6H6 at 13 incident energies between 1.1 and 40 eV and scattering angles between 10 degrees and 130 degrees. The magnetic angle-changing device, based on that of Read and co-workers, has been used to extend the SF6 measurements to backward angles (130 degrees to 180 degrees) for incident energies below 15 eV. Some features of these measurements, including the agreement with contemporary scattering theory, are reviewed.