We describe complex Kohn calculations for elastic $e^{-}-{\mathrm{CF}}_4$ scattering at incident electron energies of 0.04–20 eV. An accurate representation of the electronic correlation effects involving target polarization is critical in the explicit demonstration of a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum. We use a set of polarized virtual orbitals to form a compact representation of closed channels in the trial scattering function to include these effects. These are the first ab initio calculations to verify the Ramsauer-Townsend minimum in ${\mathrm{CF}}_4.$ We find excellent comparison between the complex Kohn results and measured differential and integral cross sections.

• Received 26 January 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.58.309