Double Differential Cross-Sections for Electron Impact Ionization of Atoms and Molecules

Abstract

The single ionizing collision between an incident electron and an atom/molecule ends up two kinds of outgoing electrons called scattered and ejected electrons. As features of electron impact ionization, these two types of electrons are indistinguishable. Double differential cross-sections (DDCS) can be obtained by measuring the energy and angular distributions of one of the two outgoing electrons with an electron analyzer. We used He, Ar, H 2 , and CH 4 targets in order to understand the ionization mechanisms of atomic and molecular systems. We measured differential cross-sections (DCS) and double differential cross-sections at 250 eV electron impact energy. The elastic DCSs were measured for He, Ar, H 2 , and CH 4 , whereas the inelastic DCSs of He were obtained for 2 1 P excitation level for 200 eV impact electron energy.