The influence of multiple scattering on the total and differential Compton cross sections in aluminium

Abstract The ratio of the elastic to the inelastic differential Compton cross section of aluminium has been measured, using 241Am 59·54 keV gamma rays at a scattering angle of 150°. The sample thickness was 7 mm. A Monte Carlo procedure was used to correct the data for the effect of multiple scattering. The resultant cross section ratio of elastic to inelastic scattering was compared with the prediction of the Waller-Hartree theory and good agreement was obtained after the multiple scattering correction had been made. The Compton profile, after applying this correction, was in agreement with a previous measurement on a thin sample, and with a calculation based on an electron-gas model including correlation.