Modeling of photon scattering at high x-ray energies: experiment versus simulation

The use of a detailed Monte Carlo simulation code for X-ray fluorescence sp ectrometers is demonstrated for calculating the outcome of X-ray scattering experiments in the incident energy range 40-80 keV. The code was validated by comparisons of experimental and simulated spectral distributions in the case of thick, homogeneous samples in which multiple photon scattering occ urs with high probability. The experimental spectral distributions were col lected at beamline BW5 of HASYLAB, Germany, where a highly energetic, monoc hromatic synchrotron beam is available. With respect to heterogeneous sampl es, the code was employed to evaluate the use of Rayleigh and Compton scatt er signals for obtaining three dimensional information on the sample dark m atrix composition.