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

该提案要求提供资金，以允许匹兹堡大学物理和天文学系的James E.Bayfield博士和Richard H.Pratt博士与马来西亚槟城圣母大学(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，临界区弹性光子原子散射合作研究计划。合作者将用理论和实验来研究目前的模型在多大程度上描述了中等到高原子序数介质中的弹性光子原子散射。将测量各种元素和散射角的横截面。这些由实验获得的截面将与理论预测进行比较。将探索如何利用实验数据来改进理论模型。测量中将同时使用小角度圆形目标几何和透射型几何。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的实验小组有辐射计量学研究的背景，除了基于应用的研究外，他们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。匹兹堡的这个团队在相当大程度上参与了基准理论计算。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坚定的物理理解。关键的合作者是备受尊敬的科学家，他们多年来一直在研究领域进行合作。他们的合作非常成功，并在被引用的期刊上联合发表了文章。该项目与发展中国家科学计划的目标相关，该计划旨在通过交流科学信息、思想、技能和技术，以及通过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.