Angular Differential Cross Sections for Excitation of Atomic Hydrogen to the n=2 Level by Proton Impact

Differential cross sections for 15-145-keV proton impact excitation of atomic hydrogen to the n=2 level have been determined for center-of-mass scattering angles 0 to 1.2 mrad. The cross sections were obtained from an analysis of the angular distribution of protons which had lost an energy corresponding to the excitation of atomic hydrogen to its n=2 level. The differential cross sections obtained are in rather good agreement with available coupled-state calculations as well as the simpler Glauber-approximation calculations. However, at the larger scattering angles the cross sections obtained from the theoretical treatments appear to decrease more rapidly than the experimental data