Positron interactions with vinyl acetate from 0.1 eV to 5 keV

Abstract Scattering cross sections from positron impact on vinyl acetate are explored in the energy region 0.1 eV to a 5 keV, employing a cc-pVTZ basis set. The optimized molecular wavefunction of the target was obtained through a multi-center expansion of Gaussian-type orbitals in the Hartree–Fock self-consistent field framework. The elastic cross sections are computed using the single-centre-expansion formalism. Two distinct models were employed to address the long-range effects associated with the target's polar nature and yielded almost identical corrections. The Born-corrected elastic cross sections align more strongly with the existing experimental corrected data than the results reported from the independent-atom-model approximation. The differential and momentum transfer cross sections after applying Born-correction are also reported. The direct ionization cross sections are obtained using the binary-encounter-Bethe model for positrons. The cross sections obtained by summing elastic and ionization cross sections align closely with ‘forward angle corrected’ experimental total cross sections across a significant energy range. The agreement significantly improves beyond 30 eV, suggesting that the omission of excitation and positronium formation cross sections becomes less significant. A brief analysis of the electron interaction with the target is also made.