Total ionization cross-sections of CH4 and C3H8 molecules for impact of 10–28 keV electrons

The total ionization cross-sections of methane and propane molecules are measured for impact of 10–28 keV electrons. The cross-sections are found to follow the variation shown by Bethe formula as a function of electron impact energy. Also, the present results compare well with the available data in the literature. Further, the measured cross-sections of the above hydrocarbon molecules are found to correlate strongly to the total number of molecular electrons and to the molecular dipole polarizability.