Theoretical cross sections for ionization of metastable excimers Ne*2 and Ar*2 by electron impact

Cross sections for the ionization of the metastable excimers Ne*2(1,3Σ+u) and Ar*2(1,3Σ+u) by electron impact are calculated in the binary-encounter approximation for collision energies E (eV) in the range 5⩽E⩽50 eV. They have maximum values ∼10−15 cm2 and are within 50% higher than the cross sections for ionization of the corresponding metastable atomic states.