ELECTRON-IMPACT EXCITATION OF THE 3D(10)4P P-2 STATE IN COPPER

Differential and total cross sections for the excitation of the 3d(10) 4p P-2 State in copper by electrons have been measured at incident ene rgies of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 eV. The differential cross sections co ver the angular range from 2.5 degrees to 130 degrees. Absolute values of the cross sections have been assigned using a generalized oscillat or strength technique and the validity of this technique is explored i n some detail. The measured cross sections are compared with those pre dicted by several theories where it is found that the close-coupling c alculation of Msezane and Henry accurately predicts the value of the t otal cross sections for incident energies greater than 20 eV. Agreemen t between theory and experiment for the differential cross sections is poor. The present measurements of the differential cross sections res olves the ambiguity in the absolute values of the cross sections measu red by Trajmar and coworkers.