Measurement of electron impact collisional excitation cross sections of Ni to Ga-Like Gold

We are measuring the cross sections for the 3d → 4f and 3d → 5f excitations in Ni- to Ga-like Au in beam plasmas created in the Livermore electron beam ion trap EBIT-I. The measurements are possible by using the high-resolution broadband coverage of the Goddard Space Flight Center micro-calorimeter. The cross sections are determined from the ratio of the intensity of the collisionally excited lines to the intensity of the radiative recombination lines. The value of the excitation cross section of the 3d3/2 → 5f5/2 transition in Au50+ (Cu-like) is presented and compared to distorted wave calculations.