Effect of multiple scattering on experimental Compton profiles: a Monte Carlo calculation

A Monte Carlo technique is used to calculate the total intensity and spectral distribution of multiple scattered photons in a typical γ-ray Compton scattering experiment. The method can be used to correct experimental Compton profiles for the effect of multiple scattering. The procedure is applied to two profiles of water measured on samples of different thicknesses and the resultant corrected profiles are seen to be independent of the original sample thickness; furthermore their agreement with a recent calculation using a near Hartree-Fock wave function is significantly improved.