Measurement of electron impact double differential cross sections of methane molecule

In this research, electron impact ionization cross sections of methane molecule are presented. In electron collision experiments, electron beam with specific energy interacts with atom/molecules of target gas and the outgoing particles are detected with respect to their scattering angle and energy. The outgoing particles are quantum particles that are interacted with each other. Scattering phenomena can be understood only if the interaction potential and particle's wavefunctions are correctly determined. Solution of the many-body problem gives important informatin about the target structure and ionization dynamics. Double differential cross sections are obtained by measuring angular and energy distributions of one of the outging particles after electron impact ionization. In this work, angle dependent double differential cross sections are measured by 50-350eV incident energy electron impact. Elastic and inelastic energy loss spectrums are obtained to determine the energy resolution and angular and energy calibration of the spectrometer. Measured elastic differential cross sections compared to existing data in literature to test the reliability of the spectrometer. Measurements are completed in Electron Collision Laboratory (eCOL) located in Afyon Kocatepe University. Angular distributions of double differential cross sections of methane molecule have been measured at first time in the literature within the frame of this work at 50-350 eV energy range by electron scattering technique. Theoretical analysis of obtained cross sections is important to verify the models that used in this processes.