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Compton
Scattering
 As mentioned on the previous page, Compton
scattering occurs when
the incident x-ray photon is deflected from its original path by an interaction with an electron. The electron is ejected from its orbital position and the x-ray photon loses energy because of the interaction but continues to travel through the material along an altered path. Energy and momentum
are conserved in this process. The energy shift depends on the angle of scattering and not on the nature of the scattering medium. Since the scattered x-ray photon has less energy, it has a
longer wavelength and less penetrating than the incident photon.
Compton effect was first observed by Arthur Compton in 1923 and this discovery led to his award of the 1927 Nobel Prize in Physics. The discovery is important because it demonstrates that light cannot be explained purely as a wave phenomenon. Compton's work convinced the scientific community that light can behave as a stream of particles (photons) whose energy is proportional to the frequency.
The change in wavelength of the scattered photon is given by:
Where: |
l |
= |
wavelength of incident x-ray photon |
| |
l' |
= |
wavelength of scattered x-ray photon |
| |
h |
= |
Planck's Constant: The fundamental constant equal to the ratio of the energy E of a quantum of energy to its frequency v: E=hv. |
| |
me |
= |
the mass of an electron at rest |
| |
c |
= |
the speed of light |
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q |
= |
The scattering angle of the scattered photon |
The applet below demonstrates Compton scattering as calculated with the Klein-Nishina formula, which provides an accurate prediction of the angular distribution of x-rays and gamma-rays that are incident upon a single electron. Before this formula was derived, the electron cross section had been classically derived
by the British physicist and discoverer of the electron, J.J. Thomson. However, scattering experiments showed significant deviations from the results predicted by Thomson's model. The Klein-Nishina formula incorporates
the Breit-Dirac recoil factor, R, also known as radiation pressure.
The formula also corrects for relativistic quantum
mechanics and takes into account the interaction of the spin
and magnetic moment of the electron with electromagnetic radiation. Quantum mechanics is
a system of mechanics based on quantum theory to provide a consistent explanation of both electromagnetic wave and atomic structure.
The applet shows that when a photon of a given energy hits an atom, it is sometimes
reflected in a different direction. At the same time, it loses
energy to an electron that is ejected from the atom. Theta is the angle between
the scattered photon direction and the path of the incident photon.
Phi is the angle between the scattered electron direction and
the path of the incident photon.
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