Electronic excitation of carbon monoxide by low-energy electron impact

Abstract

Studies of the cross sections for electron-impact excitation of the valence states of carbon monoxide, i.e., the a $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}$, $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}$, a' $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$, $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, d $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$, I $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, and D $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ states, have been carried out using the Schwinger multichannel variational method. Both differential and integral cross sections are obtained and compared with available experimental data. Reasonable agreement between the present results and experiment is seen for most of the states, and some differences are discussed. Estimates of the total cross section for electronic excitation of CO by low-energy electrons are provided.