Cross Sections for Atomic Displacements in Solids by Gamma Rays

Cross sections for the displacement of lattice atoms by gamma rays for energies up to 5 Mev have been calculated. The principal contribution is found to come from the Compton effect, in which the atoms are displaced by electrons produced by the incident gamma rays. The calculations have been based on the assumption of a sharp threshold energy for displacement, but cross sections have been computed as a function of the assumed threshold energy. Thus, from the present work it is relatively easy to obtain cross sections based upon other displacement functions.