Abstract
Low energy experimental and theoretical triply differential cross sections are presented for electron impact ionization of methane (CH4) for both the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and next highest occupied molecular orbital (NHOMO). The HOMO is a predominantly p-type orbital which is labeled 1t2 and the NHOMO is predominantly s-type labeled 2a 1. Coplanar symmetric (symmetric both in final state electron energies and observation angles) are presented for final state electron energies ranging from 2.5 to 20 eV. The theoretical M3DW (molecular three-body distorted wave) results are in surprisingly good agreement with experiment for the HOMO state and less satisfactory agreement for the NHOMO state. The molecular NHOMO results are also compared with the ionization of the 2s shell of neon which is the isoelectronic atom.
Recommended Citation
K. L. Nixon et al., "Low Energy (e,2e) Studies from CH₄: Results from Symmetric Coplanar Experiments and Molecular Three-Body Distorted Wave Theory," Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 134, no. 17, pp. 174304-1 - 174304-8, American Institute of Physics (AIP), May 2011.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3581812
Department(s)
Physics
Keywords and Phrases
Differential cross section; Distorted waves; Distorted-wave theory; Electron energies; Electron impact-ionization; Final state; Highest occupied molecular orbital; Low energies; Observation angle; P-type; Atomic physics; Dissociation; Electron energy levels; Electron-electron interactions; Impact ionization; Methane; Molecular modeling; Molecular orbitals; Experiments
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0021-9606
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2011 American Institute of Physics (AIP), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 May 2011
