Compton scattering (or the Compton effect) is the quantum theory of high frequency photons scattering following an interaction with a charged particle, usually an electron. Specifically, when the photon hits electrons, it releases loosely bound electrons from the outer valence shells of atoms or molecules.
The effect was discovered in 1923 by Arthur Holly Compton while researching the scattering of X-rays by light elements, and earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1927. The Compton effect significantly deviated from dominating classical theories, using both special relativity and quantum mechanics to explain the interaction between high frequency photons and charged particles.
Photons can interact with matter at the atomic level (e.g. photoelectric effect and Rayleigh scattering), at the nucleus, or with just an electron. Pair production and the Compton effect occur at the level of the electron.[1] When a high frequency photon scatters due to an interaction with a charged particle, there is a decrease in the energy of the photon (and thus, an increase in its wavelength.) This is the Compton effect. Because of conservation of energy the lost energy from the photon is transferred to the recoiling particle (such an electron would be called a "Compton Recoil electron").
This implies that if the recoiling particle lost energy, the reverse would occur. This is known as inverse Compton scattering, in which the scattered photon increases in energy.
^Pattison, Philip (1975). "X-Ray and Gamma Ray Scattering" (PDF). Warwick Database. University of Warwick: 10 – via Warwick Library.
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Comptonscattering (or the Compton effect) is the quantum theory of high frequency photons scattering following an interaction with a charged particle...
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Arthur Compton in 1923 in his explanation of the scattering of photons by electrons (a process known as Comptonscattering). The standard Compton wavelength...
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energy, E2, would be measured. From these two energies, E1 and E2, the Comptonscattering angle, angle θ, can be determined, along with the total energy, E1...
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to two processes: absorption and scattering. Absorption indicates energy that is lost from the beam, while scattering indicates light that is redirected...
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Arthur Holly Compton showed that the wavelength shift seen when low intensity X-rays scattered from electrons (so called Comptonscattering) could be explained...
straightforwardly given. An example is Comptonscattering, with an electron and a photon undergoing elastic scattering. Feynman diagrams are in this case: 158–159 ...
of primary gamma rays undergoing Comptonscattering within the crystal: Depending on the scattering angle, the Compton electrons have different energies...
comparatively excellent contrast with effective atomic number Z) or Comptonscattering and pair production predominate (at energies above approximately 200 keV...
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