Lineshape analysis of keV electrons scattered from hydrogen molecules. (23rd June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vos, Maarten
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 49:Number 14(2016:Jul. 15)
• Publication Date: 2016-06-23
• Subjects: elastic peak -- lineshape -- hydrogen; 34.80.Bm; Atoms -- Periodicals; Molecules -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Nuclear physics -- Periodicals; 539.6
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/49/14/145202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-4075

Abstract

Abstract: Accurate measurements of keV electrons scattered elastically from H2 molecules reveal a lineshape that is an intrinsic property of the target. The intrinsic width of the elastic peak is due to the non-zero momentum of a proton bound to a molecule. A more precise analysis of the lineshape shows that it deviates from Gaussian. This deviation is shown to be a consequence of the dominance of the momentum component of the protons along the molecular axis. The mean-kinetic energy of the protons in H2 obtained based on the new peak shape agrees better with theory than the one obtained based on a Gaussian peak shape. These measurements demonstrate the possibility of a new way to study the dynamics of nuclei by electron scattering.