Electron Scattering by DNA Bases at Intermediate and High Energies

G. García

Instituto de Matemáticas y Física Fundamental
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Serrano 113-bis, 28006 Madrid, Spain

In this talk we will present an adaptation of our experimental system to the study of electron interactions with molecular basis of DNA in the gas phase. For this purpose, we have arranged and indirect heated oven to vaporise the target with a temperature controlled electron bombardment system. The effusive molecular beam is then crossed with an electron beam to analyse the energy loss of electrons after the interaction. Ion fragments induced by electron impact can be extracted from the collision region and analysed in a time of flight mass spectrometer.

Experimental results will be complemented with our electron scattering cross section data calculated with an optical potential method in an independent atom representation.
The reliability of this model potential calculation to study DNA strings formed by base sequences will be discussed