Electron impact excitation of the 3s3p 3P state of magnesium from the ground state

Differential cross sections (DCSs) for electron-impact excitation of the 3s3p P-3 state of magnesium from the ground state have been measured at incident electron energies of 10, 15, 20, 40 and 60 eV. The energy-loss (Delta E = 0-5 eV) spectra have been recorded at separate scattering angles (theta) up to 150 degrees. The absolute DCSs were determined by using (3s3p P-3)-to-resonance (3s3p P-1) intensity ratios and the reported DCSs of the resonance state (Filipovic et al 2006a J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 39 2583; Filipovic et al 2006b Int. J. Mass. Spectrom. 251 66). The absolute DCSs of the 3s3p P-3 state were extrapolated to theta = 0 degrees. and 180 degrees and then integrated to obtain integral cross sections. The results have been analysed and compared with available experimental data and theoretical calculations.