Multiple scattering of fast electrons

Abstract

The scattering of electrons and positrons of energy from 5 to 17 Mev has been measured in lead foils of thickness 0.015 and 0.038 cm, in carbon laminae of thickness 0.132 and 0.381 cm, and in an aluminum foil of thickness 0.118 cm. The scattering has been shown to be in agreement with the multiple scattering theory of Williams in that the distribution in the product of the scattering angle times the energy of the scattered particle is Gaussian in form, and in that the mean scattering angle times energy is independent of certain geometrical aspects of the experimental method of measurement, and of the energy and sign of charge of the scattered particles. For carbon the experimental magnitude of the mean scattering is in satisfactory agreement with theory, but in aluminum and lead the experimental results are only 85 percent and 60 percent, respectively, of the theoretical predictions.