ELECTRON IMPACT IONIZATION OF HELIUM FROM ITS GROUND AND METASTABLE STATES

The triple differential cross sections for the ionization of helium from its ground state 1¹S and metastable states 2¹S and 2³S in coplanar asymmetric geometry by 150, 250 and 400 eV electrons have been calculated in the BBK model. The present results are compared with the experimental data and/or the other theoretical ones. It has been found that the structures for the metastable states differ markedly from those for the ground state. The collision mechanisms for the new structures appearing in the cross sections for the ionization from metastable states have been analysed. And it has been shown how the intensity of recoil peak changes due to the size of the electron orbital. In addition, the optimal kinematical situations for the cross sections are explored for future experiment.