Argon ion excitation by relativistic electrons: I. Collision cross sections and deposition efficiencies

Abstract

Calculations of the electron impact excitation cross sections and deposition efficiencies for singly ionized argon with electrons of energies up to and including relativistic values have been made using the first Born approximation and the generalized oscillator formalism. Deposition efficiencies for fast electrons were generated from the Peterson and Green integral equation. Cross sections and efficiencies were produced for 29 transitions from the ground state configuration of Arii to excited energy levels with (Ne)3s23p44sand (Ne)3s23p43dconfigurations and for 40 transitions between excited energy levels from 4sand 3dto 4porbitals. Efficiencies are constant for electron energies above 1 keV to 10 MeV. Electrons ejected from inner shells contribute up to 12% of the efficiency of the transition for electrons above 10 keV.