A joint program of theoretical and experimental studies of cross sections for the scattering of low-energy electrons by molecules is carried out. Such cross sections play an important role in our understanding and modeling of both fundamentally and technologically significant processes. Specific objectives: (1) cross sections for excitation of electronic transitions in carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitric oxide, and nitrogen; (2) theoretical studies of electron impact excitation of carbon dioxide and water; (3) theoretical studies of vibrational excitation of water and carbon dioxide; and (4) cross sections for elastic scattering of electrons.
