Relativistic distorted-wave calculation of electron impact excitation of xenon

A relativistic formulation of the distorted-wave method is presented for electron impact excitation of xenon. Calculations are performed for xenon 6s(3/2) 0 1 and 6s(1/2) 0 1 states with both the target atom and scattered electron treated fully relativistically. The wavefunctions representing the distorted waves are fully antisymmetrized to account for electron exchange. Differential cross sections and collisional alignment and orientation parameters are presented and compared with recent experimental data. The overall agreement with experiment is very satisfactory. The occurrence of changes in the spin orientation of the scattered electron due to both exchange and relativistic effects is predicted. The possibility of experimentally observing these spin changes in the collision frame through electron-photon coincidence measurements is pointed out.