High resolution electron interaction studies with atoms, molecules, biomolecules and clusters

Ionisation and attachment by electrons are two of the most fundamental inelastic electron collision processes. Electron-impact ionisation/attachment processes are also important in many practical applications such as low-temperature plasma processing, fusion edge plasmas, planetary atmospheres, radiation chemistry and chemical analysis. Considerable progress in the experimental and theoretical description of electron-driven ionisation and attachment processes involving atomic and molecular targets has been achieved in the past decade, for instance concerning the quantitative determination of total and partial electron impact ionisation cross sections. Nevertheless, with respect to information about the finer details of this interaction, which has to come primarily from experimental studies, little is known due to the fact that experiments require the availability of electron beams of high quality in terms of electron energy resolution and accuracy.