Abstract
The sensitivity of Monte Carlo estimates of backscattering coefficients η to the accuracy of their input data is examined by studying the percentage change in η due to changes of 10% and 20% in the differential elastic scattering cross-section dσ/dΩ and corresponding changes in the stopping power S(E) in the primary energy range 200-10,000-eV. To a good approximation equivalent elastic and inelastic scattering changes produce equal and opposite shifts in η, a result consistent with predictions of transport theory. For medium to high atomic numbers an x% error in the specification of either S(E) or dσ/dΩ produces a percentage change in η significantly less than x%, while at low atomic number Δη/η increases approximately linearly with ln-E so that Monte Carlo predictions are then more sensitive to parameter precision at high energy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 241-245 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Scanning |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 6 May 2013 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2014 |
Keywords
- backscattering coefficient
- continuous slowing down approximation
- elastic scattering
- electron transport
- error propagation
- Monte Carlo
- stopping power