Electron-impact excitation of Rydberg and valence electronic states of nitric oxide: I. Differential cross sections

Differential cross sections for 18 excited electronic states and 4 composite excited electronic states in nitric oxide (NO) have been determined for incident electron energies of 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 eV. These differential cross sections were obtained for the scattered electron angle range 10 degrees-90 degrees by analysing electron energy-loss spectra in NO at a number of fixed scattering angles within that range. This study appears to be the first comprehensive investigation of electron-impact excitation of the electronic states of NO to be reported in the literature.