Spectroscopic study of the formation of excited strontium ions upon interaction of electrons with metastable atoms

The interaction of electrons with metastable Sr atoms, as a result of which the latter are simultaneously ionized and excited, is investigated experimentally. The magnitudes of the interaction cross sections (reaching ≈5 × 10^?20 m² for the 5² S _1/2-3² P _3/2 transition in Sr II) and their energy dependences are determined. Possible mechanisms of this interaction are discussed.