Monte-Carlo simulation of Bremsstrahlung interference due to K-shell photoelectrons in Compton scattering experiments

Abstract

As a part of a larger study of Compton scattering from the K-shell electrons of Ta and Pb, Monte-Carlo simulation has been used to study X-rays emitted from 0.05 mm thick Pb and Ta foils due to K-shell photoelectric absorption of 320 and 662 keV incident γ-rays. The interference in such studies due to Bremsstrahlung from photoelectrons in coincidence with the K X-ray photons mimics the characteristics of the Compton scattering of interest and cannot be eliminated experimentally. In this work, the detector was calibrated at eight energies by experimental determination of the full energy peak and a Monte-Carlo modelling of the physical processes, which determine the detector efficiency and response function was undertaken. This physical model was then used to calculate the Bremsstrahlung emitted from 0.05 mm thick Pb and Ta target foils due to K-shell photoelectrons originating from photoelectric absorption of 320 and 662 keV incident γ-rays on the target.