Various total cross sections for collisions of electrons in the energy range 10–2000 eV are calculated for the tetrahedral ${\mathrm{CH}}_4,$ ${\mathrm{SiH}}_4,$ ${\mathrm{GeH}}_4,$ ${\mathrm{CF}}_4,$ ${\mathrm{SiF}}_4,$ and ${\mathrm{CCl}}_4$ targets and ${\mathrm{SF}}_6.$ Molecular total inelastic cross sections determined in the complex potential formalism are partitioned to account for the ionization and cumulative electronic-excitation channels. The present total cross sections and total ionization cross sections are found to be consistent with the previous data. The cumulative total excitation cross sections reported here indicate the relative importance of ionization together with electronic excitation channels including neutral dissociation of these molecules by electron impact.

This paper presents an overview of the current status of the Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Centre (VAMDC) e-infrastructure, including the current status of the VAMDC-connected (or to be connected) databases, updates on the latest technological development within the infrastructure and a presentation of some application tools that make use of the VAMDC e-infrastructure. We analyse the past 10 years of VAMDC development and operation, and assess their impact both on the field of atomic and molecular (A&M) physics itself and on heterogeneous data management in international cooperation. The highly sophisticated VAMDC infrastructure and the related databases developed over this long term make them a perfect resource of sustainable data for future applications in many fields of research. However, we also discuss the current limitations that prevent VAMDC from becoming the main publishing platform and the main source of A&M data for user communities, and present possible solutions under investigation by the consortium. Several user application examples are presented, illustrating the benefits of VAMDC in current research applications, which often need the A&M data from more than one database. Finally, we present our vision for the future of VAMDC.

The perfluoronitrile C₄F₇N is considered a promising SF₆-alternative in high-voltage gas-insulated apparatus, thanks to its high dielectric strength and low global warming potential. However, a complete and consistent set of electron-neutral collision cross-sections of C₄F₇N is still lacking, which hinders relevant plasma modeling. In this contribution, the available electron-neutral collision cross-sections of C₄F₇N are first compiled and assessed. The initial cross-sections are adjusted iteratively by the electron swarm method to determine a complete and self-consistent cross-section set of C₄F₇N for the first time. The set is validated by a systematic comparison of electron swarm parameters between Boltzmann equation analysis and experimental measurements in pure C₄F₇N as well as C₄F₇N/N₂ and C₄F₇N/Ar mixtures. The proposed cross-section set of C₄F₇N will be made available to the community in the LXCat database. It will be of particular importance for applications with an emphasis on the discharge mechanisms of this novel gas.