Momentum-space close coupling calculations of electron scattering require removal of spurious and unphysical solutions. We demonstrate here that removal of these solutions involve regulator operators that enforce Pauli exclusion selection rules in addition to removing spurious solutions. The form of a regular operator for e-H scattering has already been established, but a general extension to the multielectron case has been elusive. Here we present a general method for scattering on multielectron targets, atoms, or molecules, ensuring that the scattering solutions obey Pauli-exclusion selection rules. The regulator operator is obtained by finding the null space vectors of the $N+1$ electrons of the projectile and target atom scattering system. We demonstrate that this general procedure reduces to the e-H result and provide examples for He- and Li-like targets as well as guidance for implementation.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Atomic & molecular collisions
• Electron & positron scattering
• Scattering theory