Electron Correlation and Binding Effects in Measured Electron-Scattering Cross Sections of CO2

Differential elastic high-energy electron-scattering cross sections for C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ have been measured and, with use of earlier total results, inelastic cross sections were derived. A comparison with the independent-atom model, molecular Hartree-Fock, and configuration-interaction calculations reveals the importance of the electron correlation for a first-order density property (elastic scattering) and a second-order one (inelastic scattering). Integral quantities such as the potential-energy differences $\Delta V_{\mathrm{ee}}\left(\mathrm{exchange}\right)$ and $\Delta V_{\mathrm{ne}}+\Delta V_{\mathrm{ee}}\left(\mathrm{Coulomb}\right)$ are determined. In addition, the first precise molecular structure of a molecule has been derived from only elastic data.