Electron impact ionization of H2O molecule in crystalline ice

The present work focuses on electron impact scattering in crystalline ice, which is an exotic solid. The major difference between crystalline, form and amorphous form lies in its structure. Here we consider the H2O molecule to possess properties consistent with the ice structure. Our basic calculation rests on the complex optical potential for the e-molecule system, with the molecular charge density as an input. To examine a single scattering event in condensed phases, we build up a model scattering potential to determine total inelastic cross-section Q(inel). Finally an estimate of the total ionization cross-section, Q(ion). for H2O (free), H2O (amorphous) and H2O (ice) in the energy range from threshold to 2000 eV, is obtained through semi-empirical arguments. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.