Elastic and inelastic scattering of 59.54 keV gamma rays

Cross sections for the elastic scattering of 59.54 keV gamma rays through 141° by Al, Cu, Mo, Yb, Ta, Au and Pb have been accurately determined using a Si(Li) detector. The values of the cross sections have been obtained by a normalization technique based on a comparison with the Compton scattering from the essentially free electrons from an Al scatterer. For the lower-Z elements Al, Cu and Mo the experimental cross sections are more or less in agreement with the form-factor predictions as well as the S-matrix calculations. For the heavier elements Ta, Au and Pb the experimental results deviate strongly from the form-factor values but agree favourably with the S-matrix values. As a by-product, incoherent scattering functions have been evaluated for Cu, Mo and Yb. Also, a clear indication has been obtained for resonant Raman scattering in the case of Yb.