Gamma ray compton profile of aluminium

Abstract

Abstract The Compton profile for polycrystalline aluminium is measured using 59·54 keV γ-rays from an 241Am source. To correct the results for relativistic effects an approximation for the energy dependence of the relativistic Compton cross-section has been evaluated. The data are corrected for multiple Compton scattering by extrapolating to zero scattering volume. Final results show deviations at low momenta from free-electron theory of the three valence electrons of Al. On the other hand, at high momenta (p z> 2 a.u.) the results are in good agreement with those calculated from Hartree-Fock free-atom wave functions for the neon core configuration 1δ22δ22p 6. It is suggested that a pseudopotential calculation which gives good agreement with the experimental electron density (atomic scattering factor) of Al would be useful to interpret also the present Compton profile data.