Differential cross sections for near-threshold electron impact dissociation of molecular hydrogen

At low energies, the major pathway for the electron impact dissociation of H 2 is through excitation to b 3 Σ u + . Ab initio calculations using the adiabatic nuclei, energy balance model of Stibbe and Tennyson (1998 New J. Phys. 1 2.1) of total cross sections, angular differential cross sections, energy differential cross sections and double differential cross sections for the electronic ground state initial vibrational v = 0 level, dissociating into continuum states are presented. The formal expressions needed for such calculations, which involve three fragments in the exit channel, are derived.