Electron scattering distributions as a probe of adsorbate orientation: CO and N2

We calculate the differential cross section for elastic electron scattering by adsorbed CO and N2 . The dependence of this cross section on the azimuthal angle of detection depends on the molecular orientation and can be used to differentiate between a molecule lying flat on the surface, a tilted molecule, and an upright one. For molecules lying flat on the surface the orientation of the molecular axis and of the C and O atoms with respect to the plane of incidence of the electron can be determined.