G. L. C. de Souza

A comparative experimental-theoretical study on elastic electron scattering by methane

Absolute differential cross sections for elastic electron scattering by methane have been measured at six incident electron energies between 5 and 100 eV and over scattering angles between 10° and 180°, using a crossed-beam electron spectrometer combined with a magnetic angle-changing device to extend the measurements to backward angles (125°–180°). Differential, integral and momentum-transfer cross sections are also calculated and reported for these energies. A complex optical potential was used to represent the electron–molecule interaction dynamics. The iterative Schwinger variational method combined with the distorted-wave approximation was used to solve the scattering equations. The comparison between our calculated and measured results, as well as with other experimental and theoretical data available in the literature, is encouraging.

Electron scattering by methanol and ethanol: A joint theoretical-experimental investigation

We present a joint theoretical-experimental study on electron scattering by methanol (CH(3)OH) and ethanol (C(2)H(5)OH) in a wide energy range. Experimental differential, integral and momentum-transfer cross sections for elastic electron scattering by ethanol are reported in the 100-1000 eV energy range. The experimental angular distributions of the energy-selected electrons are measured and converted to absolute cross sections using the relative flow technique. Moreover, elastic, total, and total absorption cross sections for both alcohols are calculated in the 1-500 eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the dynamics of the electron-alcohol interaction, whereas the scattering equations are solved iteratively using the Padés approximant technique. Our calculated data agree well with those obtained using the Schwinger multichannel method at energies up to 20 eV. Discrepancies at high energies indicate the importance of absorption effects, included in our calculations. In general, the comparison between our theoretical and experimental results, as well as with other experimental data available in the literature, also show good agreement. Nevertheless, the discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental total cross sections at low incident energies suggests that the experimental cross sections measured using the transmission technique for polar targets should be reviewed.

Cross sections for electron scattering by ethane in the low- and intermediate-energy ranges

We present a joint theoretical–experimental study on electron scattering by ethane (C2H6) in the low- and intermediate-energy ranges. Calculated elastic differential, integral and momentum transfer as well as total (elastic + inelastic) and total absorption cross sections are reported for impact energies ranging from 1 to 500 eV. Also, experimental absolute elastic cross sections are reported in the 40–500 eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the electron–molecule interaction dynamics. A theoretical method based on the single-centre-expansion close-coupling framework and corrected by the Pade approximant technique is used to solve the scattering equations. The experimental angular distributions of the scattered electrons are converted to absolute cross sections using the relative flow technique. The comparison of our calculated results with our measured results, as well as with other experimental and theoretical data available in the literature, is encouraging.

Cross sections for elastic electron scattering by tetramethylsilane in the intermediate-energy range

Organosilicon compounds are of current interest due to the numerous applications of these species in industries. Some of these applications require the knowledge of electron collision cross sections, which are scarce for such compounds. In this work, we report absolute values of differential, integral, and momentum-transfer cross sections for elastic electron scattering by tetramethylsilane (TMS) measured in the 100-1000 eV energy range. The relative-flow technique is used to normalize our data. In addition, the independent-atom-model (IAM) and the additivity rule (AR), widely used to model electron collisions with light hydrocarbons, are also applied for e{sup -}-TMS interaction. The comparison of our measured results of cross sections and the calculated data shows good agreement, particularly near the higher-end of incident energies.

Absorption effects in electron–sulfur-dioxide collisions

A joint experimental-theoretical study on electron-SO{sub 2} collisions in the low and intermediate energy range is reported. More specifically, experimental elastic differential, integral, and momentum transfer cross sections in absolute scale are measured in the 100-1000 eV energy range using the relative-flow technique. Calculated elastic differential, integral, and momentum transfer cross sections as well as grand-total and total absorption cross sections are also presented in the 1-1000 eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the electron-molecule interaction dynamics, whereas the Schwinger variational iterative method combined with the distorted-wave approximation is used to solve the scattering equations. Comparison of the present results is made with the theoretical and experimental results available in the literature.

Theoretical study on electron collisions with SiF and SiF{sub 2} radicals in the low- and intermediate-energy range

A theoretical study on electron collisions with SiF and SiF{sub 2} radicals in the low- and intermediate-energy range is reported. More specifically, calculated elastic differential, integral, and momentum transfer cross sections as well as total and total absorption cross sections are presented in the 1-1000-eV energy range. A complex optical potential is used to represent the electron-radical interaction dynamics, whereas the iterative Schwinger variational method combined with the distorted-wave approximation is used to solve the scattering equations. Comparison of the present results with the available theoretical and experimental results in the literature is made.