The atomic scattering factor for X-rays in the region of anomalous dispersion

Abstract

The atomic scattering factor ( f -factor) for X-rays is the ratio of the amplitude of the X-rays scattered by a given atom and that scattered according to the classical theory by one single free electron. It is given as a function of sin ϑ/λ, λ being the wave-length of the X-rays, 2ϑ the angle between the primary and the scattered radiation. It is assumed to be independent of the wave-length so long as sin ϑ/λ remains constant. Recently, however, it has been shown both theoretically and experimentally that the last assumption is no longer valid, when the scattered frequency is in the neighbourhood of one of the characteristic frequencies of the scattering element. The first to show the influence of the anomalous dispersion on the f factor were Mark and Szilard, who reflected strontium and bromine radiations by a rubidium bromide crystal. Theoretically the problem was dealt with by Coster, Knol and Prins in their investigation of the influence of the polarity of zincblende on the intensity of X-ray reflection and later on once more by Gloeker and Schäfer.