Low Energy Electron Scattering in Organic Molecules

Abstract

Our present knowledge of low energy electron molecule scattering is concentrated on small, often diatomic or triatomic molecules, because of their simplicity, low number of vibrations and the possibility to understand the scattering in terms of a more rigorous theory. This study aims at electron scattering with larger polyatomic molecules. The motivation for this extension is twofold. 1. Qualitatively new scattering phenomena might be found, not possible in small molecules. The large molecule represents a link between the small molecule and bulk matter. 2. The information obtained, in particular the energies and dynamics of the anion states and the energies of triplet states and other states not accessible by light absorption, has important applications in understanding the chemistry of these molecules.