Excitation of Molecular Vibration by Slow Electron Impact

Abstract
A mechanism for excitation of molecular vibration by slow electron impact involving negative-ion states as intermediates is proposed and discussed. It is believed that this mechanism is the most important energy loss mechanism for slow electrons for energy regions in which it occurs. Calculation of the vibrational excitation cross section using the proposed mechanism has been carried out for hydrogen molecules and the result is compared with the experimental observations. The estimated cross section is in the order of 1 A2.