Benchmark calculations for electron collisions with zinc atoms

We present results from R-matrix (close-coupling) calculations for elastic scattering and electron impact excitation of Zn. The overall agreement between the predictions from two independent models, using either a semiempirical core potential or a recently developed B-spline approach with nonorthogonal orbitals, is very satisfactory. The latter method, however, yields particularly good agreement with the few existing experimental benchmark data for resonances at low incident energies.