Recent Measurements of Differential Cross Sections for Electron-Molecule Collisions at Low Energies

Abstract

Absolute differential cross sections for electron-atom and electron-molecule scattering have been measured for a long time,1,2 but there is still need for improvement of the techniques. The measurements of elastic differential cross sections (DCSs) are in general easier than those of inelastic DCSs. The reasons are higher signal intensity, but mainly the possibility to calibrate the instrumental response function on the well known elastic cross section of helium. The available data for inelastic scattering is often less satisfactory than for elastic cross sections, in particular where electronic excitation and thus large energy-losses are involved.