Inelastic scattering of electrons by lithium atoms

Zero-angle energy-loss spectra for lithium have been obtained for incident electron energies from 15 to 190 eV. These have been analysed to give generalised oscillator strengths and zero-angle differential cross sections for transitions from the 2 2 S ground state to the 2 2 P, 3 2 S, 3 2 P, 3 2 D, 4 2 S and 4 2 P+4 2 D+4 2 F (unresolved) excited states. The quadrupole transition probability for the 2 2 S-3 2 D transition was found to be 475+or-45 s -1 . The Racah reduced matrix element (2 2 S//r 2 //n 2 S) was found to be 29.5+or-1.0 au for the 2 2 S-3 2 S transition and 9.2+or-2.6 au for the 2 2 S-4 2 S transition.