My collaborators and I are constructing the experiments of gamma-ray polarization introduced by Compton scattering in 10--1000 keV energy range with Genat 4, and found that the polarization angle of scattered photons is not as we predicted. We compared the polarization angle of scattered photons in Geant 4 with that in EGS 4, and found that the angle is different. In general, the polarization angle has a one-to-one relation with the scattering direction in the classical limit. However, the polarization angle in Geant 4 is randomly distributed in some angle range. I read the source code "G4LowEnergyPolarizedCompton.cc" and found the description that I cannot understand. The following is the part where the polarization angle is calculated. Since the angle of cosBeta is randomly distributed, the polarization angle is also randomized. G4double xParallel = normalisation*cosBeta; G4double yParallel = -(sinSqrTh*cosPhi*sinPhi)*cosBeta/normalisation; G4double zParallel = -(costheta*sinTheta*cosPhi)*cosBeta/normalisation; G4double xPerpendicular = 0.; G4double yPerpendicular = (costheta)*sinBeta/normalisation; G4double zPerpendicular = -(sinTheta*sinPhi)*sinBeta/normalisation; G4double xTotal = (xParallel + xPerpendicular); G4double yTotal = (yParallel + yPerpendicular); G4double zTotal = (zParallel + zPerpendicular); gammaPolarization1.setX(xTotal); gammaPolarization1.setY(yTotal); gammaPolarization1.setZ(zTotal); I tried to modify as follows, the result is in good agreement with that of EGS 4. xTotal = normalisation; yTotal = -(sinSqrTh*cosPhi*sinPhi)/normalisation; zTotal = -(costheta*sinTheta*cosPhi)/normalisation; gammaPolarization1.setX(xTotal); gammaPolarization1.setY(yTotal); gammaPolarization1.setZ(zTotal); Although I did not know the correct formula of polarization angle in the Klein-Nishina regime, the above formula agrees with the classical limit derived from the Lienard-Wiechart potential. This part is not changed over the Geant 4 version 4.1--6.0.
The problem report is reassigned to the developer who implemented the code. Best wishes, Maria Grazia Pia
*** Bug 464 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. *** *** 'longof@ts.infn.it' will be responsible for bug 464. ***
The problem is being studied. The solution proposed is very similar to that of EGS4. Tests on the correct Compton behaviour are in progress.