High-resolution electron impact excitation functions of metastable states of neon, argon, krypton and xenon

Abstract

Electron impact excitation of the lowest-lying metastable states of neon, argon, krypton and xenon have been studied as a function of incident electron energy over the range from threshold to the 2P1/2 ionisation potential and at an energy resolution of 20 meV or better. A wealth of structure is observed. Several of the features are very narrow and are coincident in energy with excited states having the classification np5n'p(J=0), while several other features correspond to pairs of resonances that have almost the same energy splitting as that of the corresponding grandparent ion doublet. The interpretation of the structures and classification of the resonances are discussed.