OPTICAL-EXCITATION FUNCTION OF H(1S-2P) PRODUCED BY ELECTRON-IMPACT FROM THRESHOLD TO 1.8 KEV

The optical excitation function of prompt Lyman-alpha radiation, produ ced by electron impact on atomic hydrogen, has been measured over the extended energy range from threshold to 1.8 keV. Measurements were obt ained in a crossed-beams experiment using both magnetically confined a nd electrostatically focused electrons in collision with atomic hydrog en produced by an intense discharge source. A vacuum-ultraviolet monoc hromator system was used to measure the emitted Lyman-alpha radiation. The absolute H(1s-2p) electron impact excitation cross section was ob tained from the experimental optical excitation function by normalizin g to the accepted optical oscillator strength, with corrections for po larization and cascade. Our data are significantly different from the earlier experimental results of R. L. Long et at, J. Res. Natl. Bur. S tand. Sect. A 72A, 521 (1968) and J. F. Williams, J. Phys. B 9, 1519 ( 1976); 14, 1197 (1981), which are limited to energies' below 200 eV. S tatistical and known systematic uncertainties in our data range from /-4% near threshold to +/-2% at 1.8 keV. Multistate coupling affecting the shape of the excitation function up to 1 keV impact energy is app arent in both the present experimental data and present theoretical re sults obtained with convergent close-coupling (CCC) theory. This shape function effect leads to an uncertainty in absolute cross sections at the 10% level in the analysis of the experimental data. The derived o ptimized absolute cross sections are within 7% of the CCC calculations over the 14 eV-1.8 keV range. The present CCC calculations converge o n the Bethe-Fano profile for H(1s-2p) excitation at high energy. For t his reason agreement with the CCC values to within 3% is achieved in a nonoptimal normalization of the experimental data to the Bethe-Fano p rofile. The fundamental H(1s-2p) electron impact cross section is ther eby determined to an unprecedented accuracy over the 14 eV - 1.8 keV e nergy range.