Time Delay of Slow Electrons by a Diatomic Molecule Described by Non-Overlapping Atomic Potentials Model

The Wigner time delay in the processes of elastic scattering of slow electrons by two-atomic molecule has been studied within the frame of non-overlapping atomic potentials model. The molecular continuum wave function is represented as a combination of a plane wave and two spherical s -waves, generated by the centers of atomic spheres. The asymptotic of this function determines in closed form the amplitude of elastic electron scattering. It has been shown that at asymptotically great distances from the molecule the continuum wave functions can be presented as an expansion in a set of other than spherical, orthonormal functions. The coefficients of the scattering amplitude expansion in a series of these functions determine the scattering phases for the molecular system under consideration. With these molecular phase shifts the Wigner time delay for slow electron scattered by two-atomic target has been calculated. As a concrete example of a molecule we consider C 2 .