Cross sections of excitation of $^3F$-levels of nickel atom by electron impact

The excitation of $^3F$-levels of the nickel atom during collisions with slow electrons is investigated by the method of extended crossing beams using optical spectroscopy. Forty excitation cross sections are measured at the electron energy of $50$ eV and seven optical excitation functions. The obtained data are used to calculate the total excitation cross sections of the levels $e^3F$, $f^3F$, $g^3F$, $h^3F$, and $i^3F$. The levels of the state $3d^84s(^4F)5sf^3F$ are excited most effectively.