High Resolution Proton Energy Loss Spectroscopy of High Overtone Levels of Polyatomic Molecules

Abstract

In the inelastic scattering of nearly monoenergetic proton beams (≅ 20 e V) from polyatomic molecules such as CF₄ sharp peaks are observed corresponding to the excitation of very high overtone levels (n ≤ 14) of the infrared active modes. The collision mechanism leading to the high degree of excitation is described and an example from recent experiments is presented. A fit of the CF₄ spectra provides new anharmonicity constants for the ν₃-mode.