Electron-impact vibrational excitation of polyatomic molecules

Vibrational excitation in electron collisions with polyatomic molecules is reviewed. Theoretical treatments based on the fixed-nuclear-orientation approximation are summarized. Results of the theoretical studies of H2O, H2S and CH4 are presented as an example and compared with experimental data. A calculation in the Born approximation with a long-range electrostatic interaction is also shown. In particular, the usefulness of the Born approximation with a dipole interaction is examined in detail. Finally possible further improvement of the theory is discussed.