Electron impact excitation of water

The R-matrix method is used to calculate electron scattering cross sections for the excitation of four low-lying electronically excited states of the water molecule. These states, of symmetry B-3(1), B-1(1), (3)A(1) and (1)A( 1), have vertical excitation energies in the range 7-10 eV and are known to be dissociative. Resonances, corresponding to dissociative states of the a nion, are found in the B-2(1), (2)A(1) and B-2(2) symmetries at energies in excellent agreement with the results of dissociative attachment experiment s. Integrated cross sections are given for scattering energies up to 20 eV.