Absolute small-angle electron excitation cross sections for the resonant transition in sodium

Abstract
We present measurements of absolute differential cross sections for the scattering of 10-eV electrons by ground-state sodium, with no calibration needed. Results for 3S→3P have been obtained in the angular range 1°–20°. From these results the total cross section is estimated to be 23×1016±30% cm2. Comparisons with computational results and other (normalized) measurements are made.