Spin dependence of singlet and triplet excitation of mercury atoms

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The change in the polarization vector perpendicular to the scattering plane is examined for collisional excitation of mercury atoms by electrons at a collision energy of 40 eV. The three measured polarization parameters for excitation of the states 6 1P1 and 6 3P1 give information about the influence of spin-orbit and exchange interaction on the excitation process. The results, which are quite different for the two excited states, are compared with the latest theoretical data.