Resonance scattering of electrons by diatomic molecules

Abstract

Elastic and inelastic channel measurements in transmission are reported for the resonance scattering of electrons by N₂, CO, O₂ and NO; their interpretation is discussed quantitatively in terms of the compound state model and of the first reflection model. In the case of O₂ and NO, the resonance scattering probably arises from the ground state of the negative ion. For small electron energy losses (excitation of low vibrational quantum numbers) the transmission technique suffers from interference from elastically scattered electrons. A discussion is given of a number of features of electron momentum analysis in the 127° cylindrical selector, including field penetration broadening and background ghosts.