Selectivity in resonant vibrational excitation by e− impact (0.3–4.5 eV) on formaldehyde,acetaldehyde and acetone

Vibrational excitation by e⁻ impact via low-energy resonances has been investigated in acetaldehyde and acetone and compared with similar results in formaldehyde. Despite the large number of vibrational modes involved, the three systems exhibit a selective excitation of only several modes. Besides an important excitation of the CO stretch modes (dominant in H₂CO), excitation of CH stretch, CH₃ stretch and CH₃ deformation are also observed in CH₃CHO and (CH₃)₂CO. Interpretation of the energy loss spectra is given in terms of recently developed symmetry considerations together with the character of the LUMO occupied by the extra electron to form the transitory negative ion (resonance). Differential cross sections versus electron energy are presented for elastic and several inelastic processes. Weak oscillations (of the “boomerang” type) are observed on the inelastic cross sections for acetaldehyde, whereas no structure appears for acetone. This is in contrast with the pronounced oscillations observed for H₂CO, and reveals a shorter lifetime for the CH₃CHO⁻ and (CH₃)₂CO⁻ resonant states, compared to H₂CO⁻.     

The unimolecular decomposition of chemically activated complexes: Cross sections for the chemi-ionization of Ca,Sr, Ba with NF3 and SF6

Integral reactive cross sections for chemi-ionization have been measured in a crossed-beam experiment for Ba, Sr + SF₆ → BaF⁺, SrF⁺ + SF₅^? and Ca, Sr + NF₃ → CaF⁺, SrF⁺ + NF₂^? at collision energies E_c.m. < 4 eV. The experimental results confirm a collision complex. The applicability of RRKM theory to chemi-ionization of polyatomic molecules is discussed. The presence of competing neutral-product reactions, included in the calculation, is important for the determination of dynamical and statistical properties of the intermediate states formed. The slope of the chemi-ionization cross section as a function of collision energy indicates directly that all vibrational degrees of freedom are activated.     

Study of excited fragment emission from the electron impact dissociation of volatile mercury(II) halides

Emission resulting, from collisions of 5–200 eV electrons with gaseous H_gX₂, and CH₃H_gX (X = Cl, Br. I) was characterized in the 3800–5600 A region. HgX BX emission dominates and absolute cross section as a function of electron energy were determined. The formation of electronically excited Hg atoms, and the trend of the cross sections with the nature of the halogen atom are discussed in terms of a simple charge transfer model.     

Formation of WF−6 and its dissociative products by collisional ionization

The formation of negative ions in electron transfer reactions between hyperthermal alkali atoms (Na, K) and WF₆ has been studied in the energy range 0–30 eV c.m. Relative cross sections and translational energy thresholds for ion pair formation have been measured, from which the following electron affinities (EA) and bond dissociation energies (D) have been derived: EA(WF₆) = 3.7 eV, EA(WF₅) = 1.25 eV, D(WF₅—F) = 5.1 eV, D)WF₅—F^?) = 5.4 eV, D(WF^?₅—F) = 7.6 eV. Several ion molecule reactions are discussed which result in formation of secondary fragmentation ions and WF^?₇.     

Geometric shielding corrections for calculation of electron scattering by CO2, C2H2, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, CH3Cl,CHF3, CH2F2 and CH3F at 30–5000 eV

Taking into account the changes of the geometric shielding effect in a molecule as the incident electron energy varies, an empirical fraction, which depends on the energy of the incident electrons, the target's molecular dimension and the atomic and electronic numbers in the molecule, is presented. Using this empirical fraction, a new formulation of the additivity rule is proposed. Using the new additivity rule, the total cross sections of electron scattering by CO₂, C₂H₂, CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, CH₃Cl, CHF₃, CH₂F₂ and CH₃F are calculated at the Hartree–Fork level at 30–5000 eV. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories, and good agreement is obtained over a wide energy range, especially above 100 eV.     

Photodissociation of CH3Cl+ and CH3Br+ in a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer

A new tandem quadrupole photodissociation mass spectrometer was used to measure photodissociation cross sections for the reactions, CH₃Cl⁺ → CH₃⁺ + Cl and CH₃Br⁺ → CH₃⁺ + Br in the gas phase using wavelength-selected light. The results on CH₃Cl⁺ are compared with the earlier work of Dunbar. For both reactions we are able to observe photodissociations occurring with small cross sections (≈ 2 × 10^?20 cm²) in the visible region near the thermochemical thresholds.     

Differential cross sections and angular correlation functions in electron-hydrogen scattering for energies betweenn=3 andn=4 thresholds

Differential cross sections and electron-photon angular correlation functions for electron impact excitation of hydrogen atoms in the energy range between then=3 andn=4 thresholds were calculated using the algebraic variational method. The cross sections and correlation functions show complicated and irregular structures associated with overlapping resonances in different partial waves. The availability of these quantities may help interested experimentalists to determine resonance positions, and also may furnish an important test of the adequacy of the computations.     

Electron impact and single photon ionization cross sections of neutral silver clusters

Neutral silver atoms and small clusters Ag _n (n=1...4) were generated by sputtering, i.e. by bombarding a polycrystalline silver surface with Ar⁺ ions of 5 keV. The sputtered particles were ionized by a crossed electron beam and subsequently detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. In alternative to the electron impact ionization, the same neutral species were also ionized by single photon absorption from a pulsed VUV laser (photon energy 7.9 eV), and the photoionization cross sections were evaluated from the laser intensity dependence of the measured signals. By in situ combining both ionization mechanisms, absolute values of the ratio σ _e (Ag _n )/σ _e (Ag) between the electron impact ionization cross sections of silver clusters and atoms could be determined for a fixed electron energy of 46 eV. These values can then be used to calibrate previously measured relative ionization functions. By calibrating the results using literature data measured for silver atoms, we present absolute cross sections for electron impact ionization of neutral Ag₂, Ag₃ and Ag₄ as a function of the electron energy between threshold and 125 eV.     

Ion pair formation in alkali-SF6 collisions: Dependence on collisional and vibrational energy

The dependence of ion pair formation in collisions of fast alkali atoms (K, Na and Li) with SF₆ on the initial relative kinetic energy and the internal energy of the target molecule has been studied by the crossed molecular beam method. Using a mass spectrometer we have measured total cross sections for negative ion formation as a function of translational and internal energy. Collision energies ranged from threshold up to 35 eV and SF₆ source temperatures were varied from 300 K to 850 K.By means of an inverse Laplace transform of the measured cross sections, we have determined total specific cross sections for each negative ion depending on the SF₆ vibrational energy and at fixed relative kinetic energy.The relative importance of both collisional and internal energy in promoting the electron transfer process is discussed for the various reaction channels in terms of a collision model. An essential feature of this model is the stretching of the S-F molecular ion bond during the collision. The product show complete relaxation in the threshold region, i.e., vibrational and collisional energy are equivalent: This holds for the SF⁻₆ formation only near threshold and for the SF⁻₅ and F⁻ formation up to about 2 eV above threshold. In the post-threshold region the effect of the internal energy on the cross section dominates over that of the translational energy.From these measurements the adiabatic electron affinity of SF₆ is inferred to be 0.32 ± 0.15 eV, T = 0 K. Some other thermodynamic data are deduced: EA(SF₅) > 2.9 ± 0.1 eV (T = 300 K) and D₀(SF⁻₅-F) = 1.0 ± 0.1 eV.     

Application of the “helium excitation standard” procedure to some hydrocarbon Hβ absolute emission cross section measurements

Absolute emission cross sections for H_β radiation are presented. The H_β emission is obtained by dissociative electron excitation of propane, propylene, n-butane and 1-butene under binary collision conditions. Optical excitation functions measured for these transitions are normalized by the “helium excitation standard” procedure, using the 4 ¹S-2 ¹P transition in He as a standard at an electron impact energy of 100 eV. The results obtained are determined with an accuracy of ± 15%. The investigated energy interval is 50–500 eV. The experimental results show that the emission cross sections for H_β radiation are not independent of the number of atoms in the parent molecule.     

Organic neutralization agents for neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry

Porter has shown that excited neutrals of specified internal energies can be prepared by neutralization of an ion beam with metal vapors of low ionization potential (IP). For specific problems in neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry, a metal with the desired IP value may not be available, or it may present experimental problems such as a high vaporization temperature, instrument contamination, or detector instability. The use of organic neutralization agents such as tetra-p-anisylethylene (IP = 6.0 eV) can minimize these problems (although cross sections for neutralization with these are a factor of 5 lower than those with metals), and can provide a much wider range of IP values. Their utility is demonstrated in the neutralization of C₄H₄ ^+? and CH₈ ^+? ions to produce C₄H₄ and C₄H₈ of selected internal energies. However, for CH₄ ^+? neutralization, the CH₄ neutrals formed have a much lower internal energy than predicted, indicating that electron transfer from the neutralization agent predominantly produces its ions in excited states.     

Neutral scattering and vibrational excitation in K+Br2 Collisions

Differential cross sections are presented for neutral scattering of K atoms in collisions with Br₂ molecules in the energy range from 20 to 150 eV. In addition energy-loss spectra for the scattered K atoms are shown. The differential cross sections show a large peak near the forward direction. The energy-loss spectra point to considerable vibrational excitation at small angles. The results are attributed to reneutralization from an ion-pair state formed during the collision. In some cases this process can involve three potential surface crossings. The experimental results can be reproduced in simple trajectory calculations on diabatic potential surfaces. The calculations show that the forward scattering is rainbow scattering, caused by the internal motion of the Br₂^? molecular ion during the collision. There is no analog to this rainbow in atom-atom scattering. The internal moti is also responsible for the observed vibrational excitation.     

Absolute and relative emission cross sections for electron impact on CH3F,CH2F2 and CHF3

Emission spectra following electron impact on CH₃F, CH₂F₂ and CHF₃ at various energies have been investigated in the spectral region from 200 nm to 700 nm. Emission thresholds and excitation functions for atomic and molecular fragments have been determined. Absolute emission cross sections were obtained for two band systems, ^{A 2} Δ → X ² Π, C ² Σ⁺ → X ² Π, observed in the emission spectrum of CH₃F and for the H-Balmer radiation, H _α ? H _γ, in the spectra of all compounds. The continuous emission between 200 nm and 400 nm in the spectra of CH₂F₂ and CHF₃ has been examined systematically. It was found that CF₂(Ã) is the main precursor in both spectra.     

Energy and angular differential cross sections for K + NO2 charge transfer reactions

Doubly differential cross sections, in energy and angle, are reported for the electron transfer reaction between potassium and nitrogen dioxide in a crossed beam apparatus at relative collision energies between 2.7 and 30.8 eV. The formation of NO^?₂ in its ground ¹A₁ and excited ³B₁ state has been observed. Theoretical consideration of these processes indicates that bond bending during the collision has a stronger influence on ion-pair formation than bond stretching. At the lower collision energies most of the excess energy is converted into internal energy of NO^?₂.     

Idealized collision model for reactive scattering: Energy dependence of the cross section for CH3I + K → CH3 + Kl

The energy and temperature dependence of the reaction cross section for CH₃I + K → CH₃ + KI have been calculated using the reaction probability obtained from the idealized model of collinear, impulsive interaction between the atoms K and I and between the group CH₃ and I. Calculated values of the cross section agree very closely with the postmaximum data by Gersh and Berastein.     

UV angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of mixed methylene dihalides using synchrotron radiation

Photoelectron spectra for the dihalomethanes CH₂BrCl, CH₂ClI and CH₂Br₂ have been recorded with photons in the energy range 19–115 eV using Daresbury Laboratory Synchroton Radiation Source. Ionization energies have been measured for all valence falling within this energy including Br 3d and I 4d orbitals. Asymmetry parameters have been measured for all intense ionization processes and characteristic Cooper minima observed for halogen lone pair orbitals. For CH₂ClI lone pair orbital β spectra show strong evidence of mixed halogen character although a similar situation is not observed for CH₂BrCl. Partial photoionization cross sections are tabulated for the observed ionization processes. Detailed spectra are presented for the molecule CH₂ClI since this appears to be the first photoelectron study of this molecule.     

Semiempirical method for extracting electron molecule cross sections from experimental data: CF4 as an example

A semiempirical method is described for calculating electron-molecule interaction potential, electron density, and elastic and vibrational inelastic cross sections using experimental data.CF ₄ was considered as un example. Experimental data from IR and Raman spectra, molecular property calculations (dipole matrix elements, polarizability, distance between atoms in molecule), beam measurements of total, momentum transfer, and differential cross sections, and swarm data (diffusion and drift veolcity) are used for extracting the interaction potential, the molecule electron density, avid the differential cross sections. Electron energy distribution functions, drift velocity, and characteristic energy are calculated with the obtained differential e-CF ₄ cross sections lierAr/CF ₄ mixtures.     

Scattering of fast electrons and X-rays from molecules: CH4 and C2H2

Self-consistent-field (SCF ) wave functions are used to calculate cross sections for the elastic and inelastic scattering of fast electrons and x-rays from CH₄ and C₂H₂ molecules. The effects of basis set choice and free rotation on these cross sections are investigated. The utility of an approximate scheme to correct SCF inelastic cross sections for the effects of electron correlation is examined. The probability density for the interelectronic distance, or radial intracule density, is obtained and discussed.     

Cross sections for rotational excitations of CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4 and PbH4 by electron impact

We report differential and integral cross sections for rotational excitation of XH₄ molecules (X: C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) from 7.5–30 eV by electron impact. These cross sections were derived from fixed-nuclei scattering amplitudes (Bettega et al. 1995) obtained using the Schwinger Multichannel Method with Pseudopotentials (SMCPP) (Bettega et al. 1993). Our results represent the first rotational excitation cross sections for molecules as large as GeH₄, SnH₄ and PbH₄ using entirely ab initio procedures. The cross sections for CH₄ and SiH₄ obtained with pseudopotentials are in very good agreement with all-electron calculations and with other theoretical results. A comparison between our calculated cross sections and experimental data for CH₄ is in general encouraging, but some discrepancies remain. We found inelastic rotational cross sections and momentum transfer cross sections to be larger for SiH₄, GeH₄, SnH₄ and PbH₄ than for CH₄. We could explain this feature.     

Electron-impact ionization of the metastable Mg(...2p63s3p3P0,2) atoms

Electron-impact ionization of Mg atoms from metastable states was investigated. The method and tech-nique of crossed atomic and electron beam studies are described. The value of the total ionization cross section from the 3s3p ³P_j metastable states for 4... 21 eV incident electron energy was determined. It was found that ionization cross sections from the metastable and ground states differ considerably. This is mainly due to the different mechanisms of ion formation from the metastable and ground states. The results obtained are compared with those calculated in the classical mechanics binary approximation.