Excitation of low-lying excited states of hydrogen in 1-5-keV collisions ofH−with He, Ar, Xe, andN2

Cross sections for the production of excited hydrogen in the $3d$, $3s$, $4s$, and $5s$ states have been measured for 1- to 5-keV ${\mathrm{H}}^{-}$ ions incident upon He, Ar, Xe, and ${\mathrm{N}}_2$. The results show nominally flat cross sections which scale as a function of principal quantum number faster than $n^{-3\mathrm{}}$. Comparison is made with similar results for $\mathrm{np}$ states, and the implication that these results may have on some recently proposed collision models is discussed.