A critical comparison of electron scattering cross sections measured by single collision and swarm techniques

Electron scattering cross sections (elastic, rotational and vibrational excitation) for a number of atomic and (relatively) simple molecular systems are examined. Particular reference is made to the level of agreement which is obtained from the application of the completely different measurement philosophies embodied in 'beam' and 'swarm' techniques. The range of energies considered is generally restricted to the region below 5 eV.