Integral cross sections for electron-impact excitation of the 4 2P state in copper

We report integral cross sections for electron-impact excitation of the 4 2P state in copper for incident electrons with energies in the range from threshold to 100 eV. Measurements, based on an optical excitation function procedure, are compared with coupled-channel and coupled-channel-optical method calculations that we have also performed as a part of this study. Agreement between our measurements and theory was generally only modest. The present measurements are also found to be in quite good accord with the early near-threshold integral cross sections of Flynn et al. and the higher energy measurements from Ismail and Teubner. Where possible, comparison of our data is also made with earlier theory