Rayleigh to Compton differential cross-section ratios in liquid xenon

Liquid xenon was irradiated with 662 keV gamma-rays from a Cs-137 (7.4 GBq) source and spectra were obtained at angles from 3 to 25 degrees, The xenon target was liquefied in a cryogenic chamber specially designed for this ty pe of experiment. In situations in which it was possible to distinguish bet ween the elastic and inelastic scattered photon peaks, the Rayleigh to Comp ton differential cross-section ratio was measured. Data on elastic and inel astic scattering were compared with theoretical predictions based on the S- matrix theory and on the incoherent scattering factor theory, respectively. The results show good agreement between calculated and experimental data f or every measured angle, Effects related to liquid structure could not be s een in the measured momentum transfer range (1.4-11.5 Angstrom(-1)), being, if they exist, smaller than the experimental error. Copyright (C) 1999 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Ltd.