Shape-Resonance-Enhanced Vibrational Excitation at Intermediate Energies (10-40 eV) in Electron-Molecule Scattering

Shape-resonant enhancements in the kinetic-energy range 10 to 40 eV are predicted to be a common feature in electron-molecule scattering. These features are usually difficult to detect in elastic and total cross sections, but can emerge clearly in vibrational excitation. A calculation of the e^--CO₂ symmetric-stretch spectrum, just confirmed experimentally by Tronc et al., is given as an example. Such resonances can be predicted by analysis of the corresponding inner-shell photoionization spectra.