Combined experimental and theoretical study on the elastic electron scattering cross sections of ethanol

Combined theoretical and experimental studies on the elastic scattering of electrons on ethanol were performed in the energy range of 30–800 eV. The differential elastic electron scattering cross sections (DCS) of ethanol were measured for scattering angles of 30° to 150° using the relative flow technique and nitrogen (N2) as the reference gas. From these experimental DCS, integral elastic and momentum transfer cross sections were estimated. The comparison of the experimental results from the present work to those of other groups showed good agreement within the experimental uncertainty. In addition to the experimental determination, the DCS of ethanol were calculated by applying the independent atomic model with screening-corrected additivity rule and the modified independent atomic model. These theoretical calculations reproduced the experimental data well within the experimental uncertainty, with agreement better at high electron energies as was expected. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.