The EUV spectrum of H2O by electron impact

The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrum of H2O produced by electron impact at 200 eV is presented. A total of 25 spectral features are identified at a resolution of 0.5 nm over the wavelength range from 40 to 280 nm. Absolute emission cross-sections were obtained for each of the features. The differences of the features are all attributed to the various excited states of the dissociation products, H, O and O(+). The Lyman-alpha feature is the brightest for electron-induced fluorescence of H2O from the UV to the near-IR, and had a cross-section of 6.3 (+ or - 1.0 x 10 to the -18th) sq cm at 200 eV. The Lyman-alpha feature contributed 74 percent of the total measured emission cross-section in the EUV.