Electron impact excitation and assignment of the low-lying electronic states of N2O

Electron scattering spectra of nitrous oxide are reported in the 5- to 10-eV energy-loss range at scattering angles of 20, 30, 90, and 130 deg at a residual energy of 7.0 eV; and at residual energies of 10.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.6, and 0.2 eV at a scattering angle of 90 deg. Several new distinct and overlapping continua are observed to lie in this energy-loss range. The experimental spectra are discussed in the light of semiempirical INDO calculations of Chutjian and Segal (1972) of the vertical transition energies of N2O. An assignment of the symmetries of the observed excitations consistent with the experimental and theoretical data is suggested.