Inelastic Electron Scattering from H2

Abstract

Energy‐loss spectra have been measured for 13.7‐ to 50.7‐eV electrons in H₂. For incident energies below about 16 eV, energy‐loss peaks are observed due to either or both of the a ³Σ_g⁺ and c ³Π_u states of H₂. The excitation cross section of the v=0 and v=1 vibrational levels of the B ¹Σ_u⁺ state show sharp and large resonances, corresponding in energy with resonances in the total scattering. The absolute electron energy scale in H₂ was recalibrated to an estimated accuracy of 0.1 eV.