Scattering of electrons from hydride molecules: PH3

An absolute total cross section (TCS) for electron scattering from phosphine (PH3) molecules was obtained in a linear transmission experiment at energies ranging from low (0.5 eV) to intermediate (370 eV). The dominant behaviour of the TCS energy function is a very pronounced low-energy enhancement with two distinct resonant-like humps peaked at around 2.4 and 6 eV. Above 10 eV the TCS is a rather featureless, monotonically decreasing function of energy. Our experimental results are compared with the theoretical predictions and intermediate-energy measurements. The similarities and differences of experimental TCS data for isoelectronic hydrides containing third-period atoms (SiH4, PH3, H2S and HCl) are also pointed out and discussed.