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.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 145202 |
Journal | Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 23 Jun 2016 |