Electron impact dissociation of H2O: emission cross sections for OH*, OH+*, H*, and H2O+* fragments

The optical emission spectrum in the near ultraviolet and visible following electron impact on H₂O was studied in a crossed-beam and a static gas-target experiment. Emissions of H*, OH*, OH⁺*, and H₂O⁺* fragments were detected and absolute emission cross sections for the different fragments were determined. A nonthermal rotational population was observed for the diatomic fragments which gives insight into the dissociation process. Further conclusions on the dissociation mechanism are possible based on appearance potentials and the shape of the emission cross sections as a function of impact energy.