G. B. da Silva

An experimental and theoretical investigation into the excited electronic states of phenol

We present experimental electron-energy loss spectra (EELS) that were measured at impact energies of 20 and 30 eV and at angles of 90° and 10°, respectively, with energy resolution ∼70 meV. EELS for 250 eV incident electron energy over a range of angles between 3° and 50° have also been measured at a moderate energy resolution (∼0.9 eV). The latter spectra were used to derive differential cross sections and generalised oscillator strengths (GOS) for the dipole-allowed electronic transitions, through normalization to data for elastic electron scattering from benzene. Theoretical calculations were performed using time-dependent density functional theory and single-excitation configuration interaction methods. These calculations were used to assign the experimentally measured spectra. Calculated optical oscillator strengths were also compared to those derived from the GOS data. This provides the first investigation of all singlet and triplet excited electronic states of phenol up to the first ionization potential.

Differential cross sections for electron impact excitation of the electronic bands of phenol

We report results from a joint theoretical and experimental investigation into electron scattering from the important organic species phenol (C6H5OH). Specifically, differential cross sections (DCSs) have been measured and calculated for the electron-impact excitation of the electronic states of C6H5OH. The measurements were carried out at energies in the range 15-40 eV, and for scattered-electron angles between 10° and 90°. The energy resolution of those experiments was typically ∼80 meV. Corresponding Schwinger multichannel method with pseudo-potentials calculations, with and without Born-closure, were also performed for a sub-set of the excited electronic-states that were accessed in the measurements. Those calculations were conducted at the static exchange plus polarisation (SEP)-level using a minimum orbital basis for single configuration interaction (MOBSCI) approach. Agreement between the measured and calculated DCSs was typically fair, although to obtain quantitative accord, the theory would need to incorporate even more channels into the MOBSCI.

A dynamical (e,2e) investigation of the structurally related cyclic ethers tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, and 1,4-dioxane

Triple differential cross section measurements for the electron-impact ionization of the highest occupied molecular orbitals of tetrahydropyran and 1,4-dioxane are presented. For each molecule, experimental measurements were performed using the (e,2e) technique in asymmetric coplanar kinematics with an incident electron energy of 250 eV and an ejected electron energy of 20 eV. With the scattered electrons being detected at -5°, the angular distributions of the ejected electrons in the binary and recoil regions were observed. These measurements are compared with calculations performed within the molecular 3-body distorted wave model. Here, reasonable agreement was observed between the theoretical model and the experimental measurements. These measurements are compared with results from a recent study on tetrahydrofuran [D. B. Jones, J. D. Builth-Williams, S. M. Bellm, L. Chiari, C. G. Ning, H. Chaluvadi, B. Lohmann, O. Ingolfsson, D. Madison, and M. J. Brunger, Chem. Phys. Lett. 572, 32 (2013)] in order to evaluate the influence of structure on the dynamics of the ionization process across this series of cyclic ethers.

Triply differential (e,2e) studies of phenol.

We have measured (e,2e) triple differential cross sections (TDCS) for the electron-impact ionisation of phenol with coplanar asymmetrical kinematics for an incident electron energy of 250 eV. Experimental measurements of the angular distribution of the slow outgoing electrons at 20 eV are obtained when the incident electron scatters through angles of -5°, -10°, and -15°, respectively. The TDCS data are compared with calculations performed within the molecular 3-body distorted wave model. In this case, a mixed level of agreement, that was dependent on the kinematical condition being probed, was observed between the theoretical and experimental results in the binary peak region. The experimental intensity of the recoil features under all kinematical conditions was relatively small, but was still largely underestimated by the theoretical calculations.

Differential cross sections for low-energy elastic electron scattering from the CF3 radical

We report measurements of differential cross sections for elastic electron scattering from CF3. These experiments were performed at nine incident electron energies in the range 7?50?eV and over a scattered electron angular range of 20??135?. Where possible, results from the present measurements are compared with those from earlier R-matrix and Schwinger multichannel computations, as well as those from an extended independent atom model approach that were calculated as a part of the present study. Agreement with theory is generally good at energies above 20?eV, but for 20?eV and below the magnitude of the measured differential cross sections are significantly larger than those predicted by all the theories.

Intermediate energy electron impact excitation of composite vibrational modes in phenol

We report differential cross section results from an experimental investigation into the electron impact excitation of a number of the low-lying composite (unresolved) vibrational modes in phenol (C6H5OH). The measurements were carried out at incident electron energies in the range 15-40 eV and for scattered-electron angles in the range 10-90°. The energy resolution of those measurements was typically ∼80 meV. Calculations, using the GAMESS code, were also undertaken with a B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level model chemistry, in order to enable us to assign vibrational modes to the features observed in our energy loss spectra. To the best of our knowledge, the present cross sections are the first to be reported for vibrational excitation of the C6H5OH molecule by electron impact.

Intermediate-energy differential and integral cross sections for vibrational excitation in α-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol

Differential and integral cross section measurements, for incident electron energies in the 20-50 eV range, are reported for excitation of several composite vibrational modes in α-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). Optimisation and frequency calculations, using GAUSSIAN 09 at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level, were also undertaken for the two most abundant conformers of THFA, with results being reported for their respective mode classifications and excitation energies. Those calculations assisted us in the experimental assignments of the composite features observed in our measured energy loss spectra. There are, to the best of our knowledge, no other experimental or theoretical data currently available in the literature against which we can compare the present results.

Dynamical (e,2e) studies of tetrahydropyran and 1,4-dioxane

We present experimental and theoretical results for the electron-impact ionization of the highest occupied molecular orbitals of tetrahydropyran and 1,4-dioxane. Using an (e,2e) technique in asymmetric coplanar kinematics, angular distributions of the slow ejected electron, with an energy of 20 eV, are measured when incident electrons at 250 eV ionize the target and scatter through an angle of either -10° or -15°. The data are compared with calculations performed at the molecular 3-body distorted wave level. Fair agreement between the theoretical model and the experimental measurements was observed. The similar structures for these targets provide key insights for assessing the limitations of the theoretical calculations. This study in turn facilitates an improved understanding of the dynamics in the ionization process.

Total cross sections for electron scattering by 1-propanol at impact energies in the range 40-500 eV

Absolute total cross section (TCS) measurements for electron scattering from 1-propanol molecules are reported for impact energies from 40 to 500 eV. These measurements were obtained using a new apparatus developed at Juiz de Fora Federal University-Brazil, which is based on the measurement of the attenuation of a collimated electron beam through a gas cell containing the molecules to be studied at a given pressure. Besides these experimental measurements, we have also calculated TCS using the Independent-Atom Model with Screening Corrected Additivity Rule and Interference (IAM-SCAR+I) approach with the level of agreement between them being typically found to be very good.

Recent progress in electron scattering from atoms and molecules

We present and discuss recent results, both experimental and theoretical (where possible), for electron impact excitation of the 3s[32]1 and 3s′[12]1 electronic states in neon, elastic electron scattering from the structurally similar molecules benzene, pyrazine, and 1,4-dioxane and excitation of the electronic states of the important bio-molecule analogue α-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. While comparison between theoretical and experimental results suggests that benchmarked cross sections for electron scattering from atoms is feasible in the near-term, significant further theoretical development for electron-molecule collisions, particularly in respect to discrete excitation processes, is still required.We present and discuss recent results, both experimental and theoretical (where possible), for electron impact excitation of the 3s[32]1 and 3s′[12]1 electronic states in neon, elastic electron scattering from the structurally similar molecules benzene, pyrazine, and 1,4-dioxane and excitation of the electronic states of the important bio-molecule analogue α-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. While comparison between theoretical and experimental results suggests that benchmarked cross sections for electron scattering from atoms is feasible in the near-term, significant further theoretical development for electron-molecule collisions, particularly in respect to discrete excitation processes, is still required.