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Vibrational excitation of H2O and D2O by electron impact to high vibrational levels with energies up to 3 eV has been studied in the 4 eV to 10 eV incident energy range. The excitation cross sections are dominated throughout this energy range by a broad short-lived resonance that yields excitation of two vibrational progressions that are tentatively assigned to be predominantly (n,0,1) and (n,1,1). The 2B1 resonance at 6.5 eV, well known in dissociative attachment, was also observed to yield vibrational excitation. The 2A1 resonance at 8.5 eV, also identified in dissociative attachment, was not detected in the vibrational excitation spectra. A spectacular interference effect was observed between the 'broad' and 2B1 resonances extending over 2 eV in the differential cross sections of higher vibrational levels. The angular characteristics of the interference profile lead A1 symmetry to be proposed for the 'broad' resonance. Strong isotope effects were detected in all the observed phenomena.

Quantitative results have been obtained for vibrational excitation of both H2 and D2 by electron impact at 10 eV. A strong isotope effect is observed for the lowest levels where the X 2 Sigma u+ resonance produces the main contribution. The B 2 Sigma g+ resonance is only observed weakly in the high vibrational level cross sections. Vibrational excitation was also observed at 5 eV where only the X 2 Sigma u+ resonance is present. The near-threshold cross section of the b 3 Sigma u+ state was determined with the aim of observing the B 2 Sigma g+ resonance in this channel. No such contribution was detected, the cross section appeared to be dominated by direct scattering.

The angular behaviour of the differential cross sections for vibrational excitation of N2O by electron impact has been measured in the 1.4-3.1 eV energy range. These observations have been interpreted using angular correlation theory and lead one to propose that both Sigma and Pi resonances are present, each with only one contributing partial wave. Above 2.4 eV the Pi contribution would be twice that of Sigma and below 1.8 eV only the Sigma state would be present. These conclusions have been shown to be consistent with the angular distributions for O- formation measured previously where a reinterpretation of these results would also indicate the presence of both resonances. Finally, an angular study of vibrational excitation through the 8 eV resonance indicates Sigma symmetry with a single p sigma wave.

Resonant electron scattering from SO2 has been observed in the 2.5 to 4.5 eV energy region. Vibrational excitation of the nu 1 mode with up to 23 quanta has been detected with some additional bending quanta. The angular behaviour of the absolute differential cross sections allied to configuration arguments indicate a shape resonance of B2 symmetry. A reasonable theoretical description was obtained with the boomerang model but a weakness in the usual model for Gamma was brought to light.

Electron scattering from acetylene has been studied at low energies by means of an electron impact spectrometer. The 2.5 eV Pi g resonance was seen to lead to appreciable excitation of the nu 4 bending mode and the observed angular dependences of the scattered electrons could only be reconciled with angular correlation theory by assuming a bent geometry for this resonance and consequently a lowering of the molecular symmetry. A 2 Sigma +g resonance was located at 6 eV and is the analogue of that observed in isoelectronic N2 at 8 eV. Further information has been obtained on the Feshbach resonance series and assignments have been proposed based on the grandparent model.