Absolute Electron Impact Cross Sections for Single Ionization of Metastable Atoms of H,He, Ne,Ar, Kr,Xe and Rn

Cross sections for single ionization of metastable atoms of H, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and Rn by electrons with impact energy E (threshold < E < 200 eV) are determined using a recently developed semiclassical formula. The formula consists of an energy dependent term (classical binary encounter approximation) and a term containing the weighted sum of the squared radii of maximum charge density of the outer electron subshells (Born Bethe approximation). Although this formula was originally devised and applied for ground state atoms, a comparison of the present calculations with previous calculations and measurements indicates that this formula can also be used successfully in case of metastable atoms.