A theoretical study of the inelastic scattering of low-energy electrons fro
m metallic clusters is presented. We calculate the total inelastic electron
scattering cross section using the standard jellium model and the methods
of quantum many-body theory. Many-electron correlations for collective exci
tations of the cluster target are taken into account within the random-phas
e approximation with exchange (RPAE). The polarization interaction between
the projectile and the cluster electronic system is described using the Dys
on equation. We report resonance maxima in the energy dependence of the tot
al inelastic cross section in the energy region above the surface plasmon f
requency. This resonance effect is connected with the process of electron c
apture to quasi-discrete levels localized in the held of the target cluster
and simultaneous excitation of the surface plasmon. This process can expla
in experimentally observed resonance behaviour of the electron attachment c
ross section in the projectile energy range epsilon < 5 eV. We present a de
tailed comparison with experimental data.