Absolute angle-differential elastic and vibrational excitation cross sections for electron collisions with tetrahydrofuran

Absolute angle-differential elastic and vibrational excitation cross sections for electron collisions with tetrahydrofuran were measured in the energy range 0.1–20 eV, extending existing measurements to lower energies. The elastic cross sections were measured as a function of scattering angle from 10° to 180° at energies of 2 eV, 6 eV, 10 eV and 20 eV, and as a function of electron energy at 45°, 90°, 135° and 180°. The agreement with previous measurements and with the published theoretical work was generally satisfactory. The Ramsauer–Townsend minimum was observed at low energies, down to 0.24 eV at 180°. Three additional minima were observed at 1.13, 4.74 and 15.3 eV in the 180° elastic cross section. Vibrational excitation cross sections are reported as a function of electron energy from the threshold to 16 eV. They reveal threshold peaks and broad bands at 6.2 and 10.8 eV, attributed to shape resonances, in agreement with theoretical predictions, although the calculated energies are generally somewhat higher. A broad enhancement of the CH₂ scissoring vibration is observed around 2.6 eV, implying a low-lying (shape) resonance similar to that observed earlier in cyclopropane.