Excitation of the 4 lowest electronic transitions in methanol by low-energy electrons

We report differential and integral cross sections for electronic excitation of methanol by low-energy electron impact. Cross sections were measured for the four lowest-lying excited states at incident electron energies from 9 to 20 eV and at scattering angles from 5 degrees through 130 degrees. The measured cross sections were normalized against previously reported elastic scattering data determined using the relative flow method. Corresponding cross-section calculations were carried out using the complex Kohn variational method within a 7-channel close-coupling scheme and using the Schwinger multichannel method within an 11-channel close-coupling scheme.