Resonances in electron scattering and photon absorption

A short survey is given of the development of ideas about resonances in atomic scattering processes and their connection with the theory of resonant states in nuclei, impurity resonances in solids, ion-atom scattering and recombination in plasmas. A detailed discussion of the experimental situation for atomic resonances is then given, followed by a review of the theory of resonance reactions as applied to them. Special attention is given to effective range and quantum defect methods, and to Fano's configuration interaction theory. Theoretical results for line positions, shapes and widths are compared with experimental data and the need for more angular distribution data is emphasized.     

Resonances in positron-atom scattering

Theoretical studies of atomic resonances involving positrons will be discussed in this talk. Investigations on resonances in positron-hydrogen scattering below various hydrogen and positronium thresholds are reviewed, as well as resonances in positronalkali and e⁺-He⁺ scattering. Resonance phenomena in other atomic systems involving positrons will also be discussed. These systems include positronium ions Ps⁻, positronium molecules Ps₂, and positronium hydride PsH.     

Intramolecular electron scattering and electron transfer following autoionization in dissociating molecules

Resonant Auger decay of core-excited molecules during ultrafast dissociation leads to a Doppler shift of the emitted electrons depending on the direction of the electron emission relative to the dissociation axis. We have investigated this process by angle-resolved electron-fragment ion coincidence spectroscopy. Electron energy spectra for selected emission angles for the electron relative to the molecular axis reveal the occurrence of intermolecular electron scattering and electron transfer following the primary emission. These processes amount to approximately 25% of the resonant atomic Auger intensity emitted in the studied transition.     

Positron and electron scattering from alkane molecules

Total cross-sections (TCSs) for 0.2–1000 eV positrons and 0.4–1000 eV electrons colliding with normal-octane and cyclo-octane molecules have been studied using a relative measurement method. The TCS curves for positron and electron vary smoothly and compare well with other alkane molecules, in order of increasing carbon number. For positron scattering, weak humps at 1.5–2.5 eV for both normal- and cyclo-octane were observed. In the energy range lower than 2.2 eV, positron TCSs are roughly equal to or larger than electron TCSs. For electron scattering, a resonance peak at 8 eV and a shoulder at 25.0 eV were observed for both molecules. Over all the energy range, the TCS values for normal-octane are larger than those of cyclo-octane. The positron and electron TCS data for normal- and cyclo-octane molecules are briefly compared with those for normal- and cyclo-hexane.     

Differential cross sections for electron scattering by polar molecules. Elastic scattering and vibrational excitation

By use of the effective range theory for electron scattering by polar molecules differential cross sections for elastic scattering by HCN and LiF molecules and for vibrational excitation of water molecules are calculated.     

Resonances and dichroism in the scattering of an electron in an intense laser field by the Coulomb potential

We use a new type of Hamiltonian representing the electron-proton interaction in an intense laser field for an ab initio calculation of the differential scattering cross section. We give the diagrams of the results of calculations of the shapes and widths of the resonances in the cross section of electron scattering by the “field-dressed” Coulomb potential. The resonances emerge because of re-emission of photons by the electron. We also give the angular distribution of the scattered electrons as a function of circular dichroism for different values of the laser field strength and frequency. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1241–1249 (October 1999)     

Resonances in low-energy rare-gas atom scattering

Precise values of energies and widths of low-lying resonances in some rare-gas atom systems (Ar-Ar, Ne-Kr, Ne-Xe) are reported.     

Slow-neutron scattering by molecules

We have explicitly calculated the experimental scattering cross-section for homonuclear diatomic molecular perfect gases using virtually exact expressions for the scattering law. These recoil and detector corrections are illustrated for a series of molecules at various temperatures on various instruments. We have shown that the conventional Placzek corrections are quite inadequate for vibrating molecules and we propose a simple recipe which leads to readily calculable expressions which give good agreement with the ‘exact’ results even for nuclei as light as deuterium. This recipe can be generalized for use for almost any nucleus in any molecule and may be expected to materially improve the accuracy of structure determination in molecular gases and liquids. In particular it is found that the Debye-Waller coefficient is very dependent on the experimental parameters. The generalization to time-of-flight experiments is given in the following paper.     

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives

A series of anthraquinone (C(14)O(2)H(8)) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M(-.) (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy approximately 0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1-2.10(-13) s in the f-partial wave (l = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy approximately 1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet npi* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resonances and off-specular scattering in neutron waveguides

Off-specular neutron scattering from layered resonant systems has been studied. As an example, tri-layer neutron waveguides have been investigated experimentally by neutron reflectometry. In such systems, the neutron wave function is strongly localized in the guiding layer. The resonant states in the total reflection region lead to enhanced off-specular scattering from the interface roughness. The relation between the resonant states and off-specular scattering is discussed.     

Electron scattering by polar molecules

Theoretical and experimental studies of electron-polar molecule collisions are reviewed. Principal emphasis is placed on elastic scattering and excitation of rotational states by low-energy (less than about 10 eV) electrons. After a survey of experimental techniques and methods of cross-section calculation, the results are compared with each other. In particular, the dipole-moment dependence of the cross-section is discussed in relation to possible bound states in a dipole field. Examples of applications of the resulting cross-section are demonstrated. Finally future problems are summarized.     

Vibrational excitation of molecules by resonant electron scattering: Theory and application to benzene

A formalism to describe the vibrational excitation of molecules via resonances is presented. For the limiting cases of short and long lifetime of the negative ion the excitation probability can be calculated using a golden rule expression and a simple Hamiltonian. The intensity distribution of the electron energy loss spectrum is expressed in terms of electron-vibration coupling constants which depend on the lifetime of the negative ion. Spectra for resonant scattering on benzene-d₆ are calculated and good agreement with experiment is obtained.     

Vibrational excitation of molecules by resonant electron scattering: Theory and application to benzene

A formalism to describe the vibrational excitation of molecules via resonances is presented. For the limiting cases of short and long lifetime of the negative ion the excitation probability can be calculated using a golden rule expression and a simple Hamiltonian. The intensity distribution of the electron energy loss spectrum is expressed in terms of electron-vibration coupling constants which depend on the lifetime of the negative ion. Spectra for resonant scattering on benzene-d₆ are calculated and good agreement with experiment is obtained.     

Resonances in positron scattering from Na and K

S-wave resonances in the positron-sodium and positron-potassium systems are calculated using the stabilization method. For the target atom, the interaction between the core and the outer electron is taken care by a model potential. Hylleraas-type wave functions are used to represent the correlation effects between the outer electron, the positron and the core. Resonance energies and widths for the resonances lying below the Ps(n=2) threshold are reported.     

Perspectives in electron scattering by microstructures

Summary In this paper the physical mechanisms of electron scattering in solids are studied, emphasis being placed on the processes relevant in electron spectroscopy and lithography. The essential features of the Monte Carlo approach to electron penetration are reviewed. Lithography applications are briefly discussed. In honour of Prof. Fausto Fumi on the occasion of his retirement from teaching.     

Total cross sections for electron scattering from well-known and exotic molecules

In this review paper, scattering of intermediate to high energy electrons on well-known as well as exotic molecular targets is considered. The ‘additivity rule’ and its modifications for calculating various total cross sections are discussed against the background of an extensive experimental data. The theory succeeds at high impact energies (E _i>100 eV). Tentative upper and lower limits of e-molecule ionization cross sections are identified. Fitting formulas to represent total cross sections as functions of energy are also given.