Dynamical Theory of Resonant Electron-Molecule Scattering Near Threshold

Abstract

Resonances play an important role in the electronic and vibrational excitation of molecules by electron impact1, 2 and in dissociative attachment and recombination processes.3 The nuclear motion in the resonance state is usually described within the local complex potential approach.3, 4 The local approximation is expected to break down, however, for resonances close to threshold.3 in recent years the observation of pronounced threshold peaks in the vibrational excitation functions of many polar and certain non-polar molecules5 has stimulated renewed interest in resonance and threshold effects in electron-molecule collisions.6–10