Excitation of the $\tilde{a}\,^3B_1$ and $\tilde{A}\,^1B_1$ states of H₂O by low-energy electron impact

We report measured and calculated differential cross-sections for inelastic scattering of low-energy electrons by water leading to excitation of the dissociative (1b1 → 4a1) 1, 3B1 states. The measurements were taken using conventional energy-loss spectroscopy at incident energies of 9, 10, 12, 15, and 20 eV for scattering angles from 10° to 130°. The calculations were carried out using the Schwinger multichannel method, with a Born-dipole correction applied in the singlet excitation channel. Integral excitation cross sections for the and states are also derived from the differential cross section results.