Momentum Transfer Cross Section and Fractional Energy Loss in the Collisions of Slow Electrons with Nitrogen Molecules

Abstract

The momentum transfer collision cross sections, ${q}_{m}$, of nitrogen molecules for slow electrons and the mean fractional electron energy loss, $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, in these collisions have been determined by the method of microwave interaction in gaseous discharge plasmas. The mean energy of the electron was varied from 0.04 to 0.46 ev. The cross section, ${q}_{m}$, was found to be \ensuremath{\sim}17\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 0.04 ev. It decreases to \ensuremath{\sim}8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 0.46 ev. The mean fractional energy loss of the electron, $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, in the energy range investigated, was found to be \ensuremath{\sim}5.5 in units of $\frac{2m}{M}$. These results lend strong support to the theory of rotational excitation of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ by slow electrons.