Quantum coherence in molecular dynamics induced by inelastic free electron scattering

Abstract

This paper presents the inversion symmetry breaking observed in ion-pair formation from molecular hydrogen on electron impact. We explain these observations using quantum interference of two dissociation paths coherently accessed by multiple angular momentum transfer channels. The results point to the generic nature of quantum coherence induced into the molecular dynamics by single electron non-resonant scattering ubiquitous in a plasma environment, planetary atmosphere, astrochemistry, etc.