Vibrationally elastic total cross-sections ofe⁻—H₂O scattering are calculated at intermediate energiesE_i=10–300 eV. The interaction potentials are treated in spherical models. The dipole rotational excitation, which is significant but not dominant above 10 eV, is treated incoherently. Effects of electronic excitation-ionization, significant above 30 eV or so, are considered through a complex optical potential. A dynamically distorted charge-density is employed to calculate the imaginary part of the complex potential. Comparisons are made with recent theoretical and experimental data. The mutual agreement is better in total cross-sections than in differential cross-sections.

Our previous theoretical work one⁻ − H₂O scattering has been modified and extended to intermediate and high energiesE_i. Using the Bethe plot, we compare the present inelastic cross-sections with the experimental ionization cross sections. Total cross-sections are analytically represented asQ_TOT(cm²)=a.(E_ieV)^−b and the parameters ‘a’ and ‘b’ are discussed for molecules H₂O, NH₃ and CH₄ in the rangeE_i=100–1000eV.