Electron-impact excitation of the 5$$\varvec{^2\textbf{S}_{1/2} \rightarrow 5^2\textbf{P}_{1/2}}$$ and 5$$\varvec{^2\textbf{P}_{3/2}}$$ transitions in rubidium by 40 eV electrons: theory and experiment

Abstract We report on a series of detailed Breit-Pauli and Dirac B-spline R-matrix (DBSR) differential cross section (DCS) calculations for excitation the $$5\,^2\textrm{S}_{1/2} \rightarrow 5\,^2\textrm{P}_{1/2}$$ 5 2 S 1 / → P $$5\,^2\textrm{S}_{1/2}\rightarrow 5\,^2\textrm{P}_{3/2}$$ 3 states in rubidium by 40 eV incident electrons. The early BP computations shown here were carried out with both 5 12 states, while DBSR models coupled 150 325 respectively. also corresponding results from limited set DCS measurements unresolved $$5\,^2\textrm{P}_{1/2,3/2}$$ , experimental data being restricted to scattered electron angular range 2– $$10^\circ $$ 10 ∘ . Typically, good agreement is found between our calculated measured best accord predictions data. present theoretical are compared earlier using nonrelativistic Distorted-Wave Born Approximation Relativistic model. Graphic abstract