Search for interference effects in electron impact ionization of aligned hydrogen molecules

Five-fold differential cross sections (5DCS) for electron impact ionization of a diatomic molecule have been explored experimentally as a function of molecular alignment. Using H₂ as a test system, we exploited dissociative ionization by 200eV electrons to obtain the alignment of the internuclear axis. Separation of ground-state ionization from autoionization is discussed. 5DCS are investigated for the direct channel and found to be in good agreement with M3DW calculations discarding at the same time a simple two-centre interference model discussed recently in the literature.