Electron impact calculations of total and ionization cross-sections for Germanium Hydrides (GeHX; X = 1–4) and Digermane, Ge2H6

In this article we report calculations of the total elastic Qel, total ionization, Qion, and total (complete), QT, cross-sections for the germanium hydrides GeHX (X = 1–4) and digermane (Ge2H6) upon electron impact for energies from circa threshold to 2000 eV. Spherical Complex Optical Potential (SCOP) formalism is employed to evaluate Qel, Qinel and QT. Total ionization cross-sections, Qion, are derived from the total inelastic cross-sections, Qinel, using a semi-empirical formulation developed by us called ‘Complex Spherical Potential-ionization contribution’ (CSP-ic) method. A comparison of the various cross-sections is provided to show their relative contribution to the total cross-section QT. Present results are compared with available experimental and theoretical data wherever possible and overall agreement is good. However, no experimental data on the Qion are available for the germanium hydrides, GeHX, X = 1–3 or digermane.