Electron impact excitation of water

The R-matrix method is used to calculate electron scattering cross sections for the excitation of four low-lying electronically excited states of the water molecule. These states, of symmetry 3B1, 1B1, 3A1 and 1A1, have vertical excitation energies in the range 7-10 eV and are known to be dissociative. Resonances, corresponding to dissociative states of the anion, are found in the 2B1, 2A1 and 2B2 symmetries at energies in excellent agreement with the results of dissociative attachment experiments. Integrated cross sections are given for scattering energies up to 20 eV. (author)