Low-energy elastic electron scattering by acetaldehyde

We report results from a combined experimental and computational study of low-energy electron interactions with acetaldehyde in the gas phase. Differential cross sections for elastic electron scattering were measured at selected incident energies from 1 to 50 eV, while corresponding first-principles calculations were carried out up to 30 eV. Integral and momentum-transfer cross sections were derived from the angle-differential data. The role of resonances in the scattering is examined and comparison is made to previous results for acetaldehyde and for its analogs, formamide and formic acid.