Using linearly polarized tagged photons from coherent bremsstrahlung, differential cross sections and beam asymmetries for Compton scattering by 4 He have been measured at MAMI in the energy interval between 150 MeV and 500 MeV for scattering angles of θ γ lab =37°, 93° and 137°, thus largely increasing the available data base. Improved calculations in terms of the Δ -hole model completely fail to describe the data at large scattering angles. The same proved to be true for a schematic model, even after taking into account properties of nuclear photo-absorption in very detail.
Axis error includes +- 0.0/0.0 contribution.