Total cross sections for electron scattering on ${\mathrm{WF}}_6$ molecules have been measured in the 75–3500-eV energy range by an absolute transmission method. The data are compared to other heavy gases, ${\mathrm{SF}}_6,$ Xe, and ${\mathrm{GeH}}_4.$ Apparently different energy dependencies for these gases can be described by the same, simple four-parameter formula. A study of atomic total-cross-section parameters in the keV energy range for 15 atoms from H to W is presented.

• Received 12 April 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.61.024701