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

We have applied our recently developed fully relativistic Dirac $B$-spline $R$-matrix (DBSR) code~[1] to calculate electron scattering from mercury atoms. Results from a \hbox{36-state} close-coupling calculation are compared with numerous experimental benchmark data for angle-integrated and angle-differential cross sections, as well as spin-asymmetry, spin-polarization, and electron-impact coherence parameters. We generally obtain significant improvement in the agreement between experiment and theory compared to previous distorted-wave and close-coupling attempts. [1] O.~Zatsarinny and K.~Bartschat, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 77}, 062701 (2008).