Electron impact excitation of the argon 3p54s configuration:: differential cross-sections and cross-section ratios

New electron-impact differential cross-section (DCS) and DCS ratio measurements for the excitation of the four levels making up the 3p(5)4s configuration of argon are reported at incident electron energies of 14, 15, 17.5, 20, 30, 50 and 100 eV. These cross-sections were obtained using a conventional high resolution electron spectrometer. Elastic electron scattering from argon was used as a calibration standard. Electron-helium DCSs were used to determine the instrumental transmission of the spectrometer. Further checks of the relative shape of these DCS measurements were made using the method of gas mixtures (Ne mixed with Ar). We also present results from new calculations of these DCSs using the R-matrix method, the unitarized first-order many-body theory, the semi-relativistic distorted-wave Born approximation, and the relativistic distorted-wave method. Comparison with available experimental DCSs and DCS ratios is also presented.