Low-energy electron scattering from C_4H_9OH isomers

Abstract

We present differential, integral, and momentum-transfer cross sections for elastic scattering of low-energy electrons by three butanol isomers, isobutanol, t-butanol, and 2-butanol. Our results were calculated with the Schwinger multichannel method in the static-exchange plus polarization approximation for collision energies from 1 to 50 eV. The present results are compared with previous calculations and measurements for the remaining C_4H_9OH isomer, n-butanol [Khakoo et al., Phys. Rev. A 78, 062714 (2008)]. Distinctive behavior is observed in the differential cross sections at collision energies between 5 and 10 eV. In particular, whereas n-butanol exhibits an f-wave scattering pattern, the other isomers exhibit d-wave behavior. A similar pattern is found in the related alkanes when comparing straight-chain versus branched isomers. We discuss the possible connection of this behavior to shape resonances that influence the scattering.

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