Bound-free correlation in electron scattering by atoms and molecules

Calculation of cross sections for low-energy electron scattering by atoms and molecules requires accurate treatment of multipole polarization response, an aspect of bound-free electronic correlation. A formally exact theory is developed that extends the static-exchange model of electron scattering to include electronic correlation. This formalism is valid both for short-range Coulomb-cusp correlation and for long-range multipole polarization response. © 2000 The American Physical Society.