Electron scattering by molecules with and without vibrational excitation. v. elastic scattering and nonresonant vibrational excitation of N₂ at 30-83 eV

Model polarized Born approximation calculations are compared to all the available intermediate energy differential cross section data for elastic scattering by N₂ and for electron impact excitation of vibration in N₂. The various models predict the angle dependence of the elastic scattering differential cross sections accurately for scattering angles less than 40°-70° at 30 and 83 eV. Vibrational excitation is found to be dominated by the polarization interaction at 33-50 eV.