The Nuclear Configuration Effects on Electron Impact Ionization Cross Sections of He and H2 Measured in the Perpendicular Plane*

The effect of nuclear configuration on the differential cross sections for ionization of atomic He and molecular H2 will be reported. In these investigations, ionization into the perpendicular plane is investigated since this geometry is highly sensitive to nuclear scattering. Consequently, the perpendicular plane provides an ideal test-case to investigate the influence of different nuclear configurations on the ionization process. Experimental cross sections for He and H2 (same number of protons differently configured) show remarkable similarities and differences which can be explained in terms of elastic scattering for the respective nuclei.