Electron impact excitation of rubidium atoms

We have carried out distorted wave calculations for electron impact 5 S-2 --> P-2, 6 S-2 and 4 D-2 excitations of rubidium atom at incident electron energies in the range of 10-200 eV. Results are presented for differential and total cross-sections of these excitations, Stokes parameters of the excitation of the fine-structure resolved and unresolved 5 P-2 and 4 D-2 states, complete experiment parameters for the excitation of 5 P-2 state and the STU spin parameters of its fine structure states. Good agreement is found on comparison of our results with the available experimental data and the earlier theoretical calculations. Except for the resonance 5 S-2 --> 5 P-2 transition no earlier calculations were reported for the excitation of the higher 6 S-2 and 4 D-2 states.