Precise determination of differential electron scattering cross sections. I. The apparatus and the N/sub 2/ results

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5909649

Fink, M; Moore, P G; Gregory, D

Total (elastic plus inelastic) differential cross sections of 30, 40, and 50 keV electrons incident on N/sub 2/ have been measured in the angular range of 9--200 mrad. The accuracy achieved was about 0.1%. The apparatus is discussed in extensive detail. The data are used to determine the molecular structure parameters and then matched to the independent atom model composed of Hartree--Fock atoms. In a second comparison, configuration interaction atoms are utilized. The difference curve of s/sup 4/(I/sub expt/-I/sub theo/) is constructed and integrated in order to determine the molecular binding energy. The value varies from 17 eV to 10 eV depending on the matching procedure chosen. Since the cross sections were measured at various incident electron energies, the validity of the first Born approximation could be investigated. It was found that the Born theory holds to within the uncertainty in the data. Thus, recent discrepancies found in Compton profile measurements must be attributed to a failure of the binary encounter theory.

• Research Organization: Physics Department and Electronics Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
• OSTI ID: 5909649
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 71:12; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCURACY
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
FLUIDS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 10-100
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
SCATTERING