Backscattering of gamma-rays from semi-infinite stratified slabs of alternating tin and aluminum layers

The backscattering of γ-rays has been investigated from semi-infinite stratified slabs of alternating layers of tin and aluminum. The energy spectrum and the angular distribution of backscattered photons, as well as the number and energy albedos were obtained for ⁶⁰Co and ¹³⁷Cs point isotropic sources. They were compared with the data obtained with single layers of tin and aluminum. The stratified slabs of alternating layers were assumed in this study to be equivalent in property to a homogeneous mixture of tin and aluminum, and the effective atomic numbers were computed on this basis. The resulting values are found to agree with the effective atomic numbers corresponding to the albedo values obtained for the alternating layers. (author)