Compton component of the mass-energy absorption coefficient: corrections due to the energy broadening of Compton-scattered photons

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576302· OSTI ID:5966238

Ribberfors, R; Carlsson, G A

The velocity distribution of atomic electrons causes an energy broadening of photons Compton scattered through a given angle. The energy distribution of the photons is peaked at the Compton energy (that of photons scattered against free electrons at rest). Doubly differential incoherent scattering cross sections calculated in the relativistic impulse approximation show that the broadening is asymmetric around the Compton energy, particularly for photon energies <200 keV and when energy transfers are in the neighborhood of an absorption edge in the atom. Here, doubly differential cross sections are used in calculations of the incoherent energy absorption cross section. The values derived deviate considerably from those in standard tabulations. Neglect of the energy broadening leads to an underestimate of the true energy transferred to Compton electrons. The maximum correction increases with decreasing atomic number, amounting to 5% for hydrogen at 10 keV and 1-2% for the biologically interesting elements carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen at 50-80 keV.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Linkoeping, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 5966238
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 101:1; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

654001* -- Radiation &amp; Shielding Physics-- Radiation Physics
Shielding Calculations &amp; Experiments
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPTON EFFECT
CROSS SECTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY ABSORPTION
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
INCOHERENT SCATTERING
INTERACTIONS
KEV RANGE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PHOTONS
SCATTERING
SPECTRA