If an electron with energies of 1 keV or more scatters from a molecule over large angles, then momentum (recoil) is transferred from the electron to a single atom of the molecule. The recoil can leave the molecule in an excited state, and this is reflected in the energy of the scattered electron. Surprisingly the theoretical treatment of this very basic process is in its infancy, and experimental data have only become available over the last few years. This project aims to provide high-quality experimental data to test the recently developed theory by Bonham et al , and hence test our understanding of this very basic quantum-mechanical process.

Some key publications:
M. Vos and M.R. Went and G. Cooper and C.A. Chatzidimitriou-Dreismann, Elastic electron scattering from methane at high momentum transfer, J. Phys. B, 41, 135204 (2008).

M. Vos and M. R. Went, Elastic electron scattering from hydrogen molecules at high momentum transfer, J. Phys. B 42 065204 (2009).

R.A. Bonham, A.P. Cooper and A.P. Hitchcock, Electron Compton-like quasielastic scattering from H2, D2, and HD, J. Chem. Phys. 130 144303 (2009).

Measurement of momentum distribution of light atoms and molecules in condensed matter systems using inelastic neutron scattering C. Andreani et al, Advances in Physics 54, 377 (2005).