Electron scattering by nitrogen molecules: theory and application to elastic scattering and rotational excitation at 30--75 eV

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.432146· OSTI ID:7194875

Brandt, M A; Truhlar, D G; Van-Catledge, F A

An effective potential model applicable to electron scattering by small or large molecules, including rotational and vibrational motions, is developed for electron scattering by N/sub 2/. The INDO/1s method is used to calculate the static potential at a large number of distances and a simple model is used for the polarization potential. The rotational and vibrational matrix elements of these potentials are accurately calculated and the scattering is treated by a truncated close-coupling expansion. With no adjustable parameters, calculated electronically and vibrationally elastic scattering cross sections are in reasonable agreement with experiment for angles 40/sup 0/--50/sup 0/ and less at energies 30--75 eV. The rotational excitation cross sections have never been measured for N/sub 2/ but are predicted to be large (as large as half the pure elastic cross sections when integrated over scattering angles and larger than the pure elastic differential cross sections at a range of large scattering angles at each energy). (AIP)

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
• OSTI ID: 7194875
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 64:12; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
COLLISIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ROTATIONAL STATES
SCATTERING
VIBRATIONAL STATES