Electron-induced double ionization of isolated water molecules

Abstract

Theoretical doubly differential and total cross sections for electron-induced double ionization of oriented water molecules are reported here. The calculations are performed within the first Born approximation by describing the initial molecular state by means of single-center wave functions. Furthermore, the incident (scattered) electron is described by a plane wave while a Coulomb wave function is used for modeling the two secondary ejected electrons. The contribution of each final state to the double-ionization process is analyzed, namely, in considering target electrons ejected either from similar or from different molecular subshells. Thus, secondary electron energetic distributions as well as total cross sections are reported for particular target configurations, pointing out orientation effects in the double-ionization process.