U.S.-Malaysia Cooperative Research on Threshold Region Elastic Photon Atom Scattering

本提案请求资金允许匹兹堡大学物理与天文系James E. Bayfield博士和Richard H. Pratt博士与马来西亚槟城马来西亚理科大学（USM）物理学院Chon Sing Chong博士领导的马来西亚科学家团队进行为期24个月的研究。阈区弹性光子原子散射的合作研究方案。合作者将使用理论和实验来研究当前模型在中等到高原子序数介质中描述弹性光子原子散射的程度。将测量各种元素和散射角的截面。这些实验得到的截面将与理论预测进行比较。将探讨如何利用实验数据来改进理论模型。小角圆靶几何形状和透射型几何形状都将用于测量。该项目涉及两组具有互补技能和设施的研究人员的合作研究。USM的实验组在辐射计量学方面有研究背景，除了基于应用的研究外，还致力于获得更高精度和更准确的光子总相互作用系数和微分散射截面的测量。匹兹堡大学的研究小组在基准理论计算方面有相当大的参与。他们的兴趣一直是在原子水平上发展对各种可能的光子相互作用过程的牢固的物理理解。主要合作者是备受尊敬的科学家，他们多年来一直在研究领域合作。他们的合作非常成功，并在评审期刊上发表了联合出版物。该项目与“发展中国家科学项目”的目标相关，该项目旨在通过科学信息、思想、技能和技术的交流以及在互利问题上的合作，提高美国科学家和工程师与发展中国家同行之间的合作水平。

This proposal requests funds to permit Dr. James E. Bayfield and Dr. Richard H. Pratt, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, to pursue with a team of Malaysian scientists led by Dr. Chon Sing Chong, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia, for a period of 24 months, a program of cooperative research on threshold region elastic photon atom scattering. The collaborators will use theory and experiment to study the extent to which current models describe elastic photon atom scattering in moderate to high atomic number media. Cross sections will be measured for a variety of elements and scattering angles. These experimentally obtained cross sections will be compared with theoretical predictions. The use of experimental data to improve theoretical models will be explored. Both small angle circular target geometry and transmission type geometry will be utilized in the measurements. This project involves cooperative research of two groups of investigators who have complementary skills and facilities. The experimental group at USM has a background of research in radiation metrology with efforts directed towards obtaining higher precision and more accurate measurement of total interaction coefficients and differential scattering cross sections of photons, in addition to applications-based research. The group at Pittsburgh has considerable involvement in benchmark theoretical calculations. Their interest has been in developing a firm physical understanding of the various possible photon interaction processes at the atomic level. The key collaborators are highly respected scientists who, for a number of years, have cooperated in the field of the research. Their cooperation has been highly successful and has resulted in joint publications in refereed journals. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit.