Valence-Shell Excitations of Nitrous Oxide Studied by Fast Electron Impact

The valence-shell excitations of nitrous oxide are studied by fast electron energy loss spectroscopy. From the spectra measured at 2.5 keV and scattering angles of 3.5°–8.5°, it is found that the asymmetric peak of the transition B1Δ can be well fitted by Haarhoff-Van der Linde function, while the symmetric peaks of the transitions of C1Π and D1Σ+ can be well fitted by the Voigt function. The parameters of the peak profiles of B1Δ, C1Π and D1Σ+, i.e., their energy level positions and linewidths, are determined. With the aid of these parameters, the overlapping spectra measured at the low-energy electron impact can be deconvolved, which provides the possibility to determine the quantitative differential cross sections. The present results also show that the peak profiles of the transitions of B1Δ, C1Π and D1Σ+, are independent of the momentum transfer.