B-spline R-matrix-with-pseudostates calculations for electron-impact excitation and ionization of fluorine

The B-spline R-matrix method is used to study electron collisions with neutral fluorine over an energy range from threshold to 100 eV. The multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock method in connection with B-spline expansions is employed for an accurate representation of the target wave functions. The sensitivity of the results is checked by comparing data obtained in different approximations, including a large-scale model with over 600 continuum pseudostates. Both correlation and polarization effects are found to be important for accurate calculations of the cross sections. Coupling to the target continuum strongly affects transitions from the ground state, but to a lesser extent the strong transitions between excited states. Cross sections are presented for selected transitions between the lowest 26 states of fluorine, as well as elastic scattering from and ionization of the ground state. The current predictions represent an extensive set of electron scattering data for neutral fluorine.