Interference effects in single ionization of molecular hydrogen by electron impact

Abstract

A recently developed molecular three-continuum approximation is employed to compute differential cross sections for the ionization of hydrogen molecules by electron impact. Within the framework of this approximation, the chosen final electronic wavefunction takes into account the molecular character of the target as well as the correlate motion between the aggregates in the final channel of the reaction. Fivefold-differential cross sections as a function of both the electron momenta in the final state and the molecular orientation are studied for different kinematical arrangements. Interference structures coming from the two-centre geometry of the molecule are predicted in this case. Integrated cross sections over all molecular orientations are also calculated. It is shown that interference patterns remain, even for this case.