Fully relativistic B-spline R-matrix calculations for electron collisions with xenon

We have applied our recently developed fully relativistic Dirac $B$-spline $R$-matrix (DBSR) code~[1] to calculate electron scattering from xenon atoms. Results from a \hbox{31-state} close-coupling model for the excitation function of the metastable \hbox{${\rm (5p^5 6s)}~J=0,2$} states show excellent agreement with experiment~[2], thereby presenting a significant improvement over the most sophisticated previous Breit-Pauli calculations~[3,4]. This allows for a detailed and reliable analysis of the resonance structure. The same model is currently being used to calculate electron-impact excitation from the metastable $J=2$ state. The results will be compared with recent experimental data~[5] and predictions from other theoretical models~[6,7]. [1]~O.~Zatsarinny and K.~Bartschat, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 77} (2008) 062701. [2]~S.~J. Buckman {\it et al}., J. Phys. B {\bf 16} (1983) 4219. [3]~A.~N.~Grum-Grzhimailo and K.~Bartschat, J. Phys. B {\bf 35} (2002) 3479. [4]~M.~Allan {\it et al}., Phys. Rev. A {\bf 74} (2006) 030701(R). [5]~R.~O. Jung {\it et al}., Phys. Rev. A {\bf 72} (2005) 022723. [6]~R. Srivastava {\it et al}., Phys. Rev. A {\bf 74} (2006) 012715. [7]~J.~Jiang {\it et al}., J. Phys. B {\bf 41} (2008) 245204.