Low-energy symmetric coplanar and symmetric non-coplanar (e, 2e) studies from the 3a1 state of H2O

Experimental and theoretical results are presented for electron impact ionization of water in the energy regime from near threshold to intermediate energies. Results were taken in symmetric coplanar and non-coplanar geometries, with both equal and non-equal outgoing electron energies. The models approximate the random orientation of the target using a spherical averaging of the wavefunction prior to the collision, using sophisticated distorted wave Born calculations that include post-collisional interactions in first order and to all orders of perturbation theory. The calculations predict the data most accurately at the lowest energy studied (4 eV above threshold) in a coplanar symmetric geometry, whereas the comparison between theory and experiment is generally marginal for higher energies and for non-coplanar geometries. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.