What occurs when incident electrons collide with electrons in lower energy levels of atoms?

When incident electrons collide with electrons in lower energy levels of atoms, the primary interaction involves the transfer of energy. This energy transfer can occur in a few ways, but one crucial outcome is that the incident electrons can impart enough energy to the lower energy level electrons to overcome the attractive forces holding them in place. As a result, these electrons can be ejected from the atom, leading to ionization.

This process of knocking electrons out of an atom is essential in various contexts, such as in ionization chambers or in the understanding of how radiation interacts with matter. The energy from the incident electrons allows for the event of ionization, which is a fundamental principle in understanding atomic behavior and electron dynamics.

In this context, the other choices do not align with the primary effect of the collisions being described. There is no stabilization or ascension to higher energy levels as the crucial action is the ejection of electrons from the atom due to sufficient energy transfer. Emission of photons would typically occur during different interactions, such as when electrons drop from higher energy levels to lower ones, while the absorption of energy and shift to higher energy levels is not the immediate result of the collision described in this scenario.