Generalized oscillator strengths in the electron impact spectra of cadmium vapour

Studies of generalized oscillator strengths as a function of incident electron kinetic energy in the range 60-150 eV have been made for cadmium using a crossed beam high resolution electron energy loss spectrometer. Absolute generalized oscillator strengths have been derived by normalizing the resonance transition, 5 1 S to 5 1 P, to the optical oscillator strength at zero momentum change. The reduced matrix elements (5 1 S//r 2 //6 1 S) and (5 1 S//r 2 //7 1 S) were found to be 6.6 au+or-25% and 2.3 au+or-50% respectively, and the electric quadrupole transition probabilities A(5 1 S to 5 1 D) and A(5 1 S to 6 1 D) calculated as 2588 s -1 +or-30% and 572 s -1 +or-40% respectively.