The Fokker-Planck equation for Compton scattering in a plasma is developed without recourse to a non-relativistic expansion. Using calculated energy exchange rates for scattering in a relativistic Maxwellian plasma, an equation is obtained which is valid for electron temperatures up to 100 keV and photon energies up to 1 MeV. Numerical comparisons are presented which show excellent agreement between Fokker-Planck and Monte Carlo calculations. Results using the nonrelativistic Fokker-Planck, valid to only 20 keV, are also presented to indicate the improvement made.

• Received 9 March 1970

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.3.2312