Diffraction of fast electrons on the fullerene C60 molecule

In this paper we present results of experimental and theoretical studies of both elastic and inelastic scattering of fast electrons on the fullerene C-60 in the gas phase. We report the first experimental observation of the electron diffraction on C-60, manifesting itself in both elastic and inelastic scattering processes. Diffraction patterns of the cross sections carry important information about the characteristics of the target fullerene, such as its size, distribution of the charge density near the cluster surface, frequencies of plasmon resonance excitations, etc. [S0031-9007(98)06890-2].