The relationship of the virtual orbitals of self-consistent-field theory to temporary negative ions in electron scattering from molecules

Abstract

The theory given here shows how certain of the virtual orbitals of self-consistent field (SCF) theory provide a natural ingredient for constructing basis functions to study the shape resonances associated with temporary molecular ions. We give specific calculations of resonant behavior in H2, N2, ethylene, cyclopropene, and cyclobutene. In addition, we show how the theory can rationalize the relationship between Koopmans’ theorem values of the energy of a resonance and the experimental values.