Toward improved photon-atom scattering predictions

Photon-atom scattering is important in a variety of applications, but scattering from a composite system depends on the accurate characterization of the scattering from an isolated atom or ion. We have been examining the validity of simpler approximations of elastic scattering in the light of second-order S-matrix theory. Partitioning the many-body amplitude into Rayleigh and Delbrueck components, processes beyond photoionization contribute. Subtracted cross sections for bound-bound atomic transitions, bound pair annihilation, and bound pair production are required in anomalous scattering factors for: (1) convergence of the dispersion integral; (2) agreement with predictions of the more sophisticated S-matrix approach; (3) satisfying the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. New accurate tabulations of anomalous scattering factors have been prepared for all Z, for energies 0--10,000 keV, within the independent particle approximation (IPA) using a Dirac-Slater model of the atom. Separately, experimental atomic photoabsorption threshold information has been used to modify these IPA predictions for improved comparison with experiment