Excitation of thallium and lead atoms by electrons in the relativistic distorted-wave approximation

Relativistic distorted-wave calculations are reported for the differential cross section and a complete set of S, T and U parameters for electron impact excitation of thallium from its ground state 6p2P 1/2 to the fine-structure state 6p2P3/2 as well as the 7s2S 1/2 state, and of lead for the fine-structure transitions3P0 →3P1,3P2 and1D2. Our results for the asymmetry parameter SA are compared with the only available experimental measurements from the Munster group and the agreement is very satisfactory