Dynamics of Low-Energy Electron Induced Reactions in Condensed

We present insights into the dynamics of low-energy electron-induced reactions in thin films of methanol (CH$_{3}$OH). Low-energy electrons in matter can initiate chemical reactions though electron impact ionization of a molecule, electron impact excitation of a molecule, or through dissociation of a transient negative ion formed by electron attachment to a molecule. Our studies focus on the dynamics by which low-energy electron interaction with condensed methanol initiates chemical reactions which lead to the formation of methoxymethanol (CH$_{3}$OCH$_{2}$OH) and ethylene glycol (HOCH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$OH). The results of our post-irradiation temperature programmed desorption experiments indicate that both products can form from irradiating methanol with electrons at subionization energies. In addition, we find evidence that dissociative electron attachment plays a role in the formation of methoxymethanol but not in ethylene glycol.