ELECTRON-SCATTERING FROM SO2 MOLECULES - ELASTIC PROCESSES AND ROTATIONAL EXCITATIONS

Quantum calculations are carried out for the scattering of electrons f rom sulphur dioxide molecules in the energy range from about 1.0 eV up to 30 eV. Integral and differential cross sections are obtained for t he elastic process and for the excitation processes of the target asym metric rotor into various final rotational levels. Comparison with exp erimental data, both of the momentum transfer cross sections and the a ngular distributions, indicates rather good agreement between measured and computed values over the whole range of the examined energies, wh ile the integral elastic cross sections (rotationally summed) show dis agreement at low energy with the experimental estimates. Born correcti ons to the calculations are also shown to provide the correct behaviou r of the forward scattering angular distributions and a reliable guide to experimental extrapolation procedures.