Resonance transitions in electron-impact ionization of studied by angle-resolved spectroscopy
Phys. Rev. A 112, 062805 – Published 2 December, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ny98-qlb2
Abstract
This paper investigates shape resonances in the electron-impact ionization of . To this end, scattered-electron–fragment-ion coincidence experiments have been conducted for the molecule, employing an incident electron energy of 1.4 keV and a range of scattering angles from to . The ionization spectra of the and channels have been constructed from the scattered-electron–-ion coincidence signals obtained. A resonance band at electron energy loss of in the ionization channel is found to exhibit momentum-transfer dependence characteristic of a dipole-allowed transition and is attributed to the excitation. The spectra of the ionization to the state manifest a broad peak centered at , and its momentum-transfer dependence indicates that this newly identified band arises from a transition to a dipole-forbidden resonance level. The present study demonstrates that angle-resolved spectroscopy is a powerful means to investigate shape resonances in the nondipole ionization of molecules, and the outcomes provide a foundation for elucidating the impact of resonance transitions on molecular processes induced by electron impact.