Effects of the Polarization Force on the Rotational Transition in Polyatomic Molecules by Electron Collision

Abstract

The rotational excitation of a polyatomic molecule by electron collision is considered as caused by the polarization interaction as well as by the electrostatic one. It is shown how to incorporate the polarization effect into the Born formula previously derived for the rotational cross sections of symmetric-top molecules. Numerical examples are given for the electron-NH₃, –H₂O, and –H₂CO collisions.