Excitation of autoionization states of atoms by electron impact using the Born and distorted-waves approximation

Using the Born and distorted-waves approximations, we develop a method for the description of inelastic scattering of intermediate-energy electrons from atoms, with allowance for the excitation of autoionization states. The excitation of the state $^4d-^1 5p^1 P$ of a cadmium atom is used to discuss some features of the resonant ionization which are due to the distortions of the incident and scattered waves in comparison with the plane-wave Born approximation.