Excitation of Methane, Ethane, Ethylene, Propylene, Acetylene, Propyne, and 1-Butyne by Low-Energy Electron Beams

Abstract

Low-energy inelastic collisions between electrons and hydrocarbon molecules are studied by means of a trapped-electron technique. Excitation spectra are obtained over the subionization energy range for methane, ethane, ethylene, propylene, acetylene, propyne, and 1-butyne. Molecular excitation potentials are measured, and relative cross sections are tabulated.