We report results of the first ab initio, close-coupling calculations of the electron impact excitation of atomic copper in the 0.1–8.0-eV range. Integrated, inelastic cross sections are given for the low-lying ${}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{°}$ and ${}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{D}_{}^{\mathrm{e}}{}_{}{}^{}$ excited states, which are important to the kinetics of the copper vapor laser. The calculated cross sections exhibit a rich resonance structure due to ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{\mathrm{-}}$ states, which have not been previously known.

• Received 9 February 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.35.4869