Jeppiaar institute of technology

Engineering physics

Case study

Make by
RAGUL.M
1st year
Mechanical

STAFF:sarojini mam
CODE:PH3151
 TOPIC

COMPTON EFFECT

Index:
1.introduction
2. The experiment
3.Physics
4.Applications
5.References
Introduction:
Compton effect (also called Compton
scattering) is the result of a high-energy photon colliding with
a target, which releases loosely bound electrons from the
outer shell of the atom or molecule. The scattered radiation
experiences a wavelength shift that cannot be explained in
terms of classical wave theory, thus lending support to
Einstein’s photon theory. The effect was first demonstrated in
1923 by Arthur Holly Compton (for which he received a 1927
Nobel Prize). The effect is important because it demonstrates
that light cannot be explained purely as a wave phenomenon.
Thomson scattering, the classical theory of an electromagnetic
wave scattered by charged particles, cannot explain low
intensity shift in wavelength. Classically, light of sufficient
intensity for the electric field to accelerate a charged particle
to a relativistic speed will cause radiation-pressure recoil and
an associated Doppler shift of the scattered light, but the
effect would become arbitrarily small at sufficiently low light
intensities regardless of wavelength. Light must behave as if it
consists of particles in order to explain the low-intensity
Compton scattering. Compton’s experiment convinced
physicists that light can behave as a stream of particles whose
energy is proportional to the frequency.
The experiment:
Schematic diagram of the
apparatus used by Compton is shown in the Figure below. A
graphite target was bombarded with monochromatic x-rays
and the wavelength of the scattered radiation was measured
with a rotating crystal spectrometer. The intensity was
determined by a movable ionization chamber that generated a
current proportional to the x-ray intensity. Compton measured
the dependence of scattered x-ray intensity on wavelength at
three different scattering angles of 45,90,and 135 degree

Figure 1 The experimental intensity vs. wavelength plots

observed by Compton for the above three scattering angles
(See Fig. below) show two peaks, one at the wavelength λ of
the incident x-rays and the other at a longer wavelength λc′ .

Physics:
Compton effect is the decrease in energy
(increase in wavelength) of an X-ray or gamma ray photon,
when it interacts with matter. Because of the change in
photon energy, it is an inelastic scattering process. Inverse
Compton scattering also exists, where the photon gains energy
(decreasing in wavelength) upon interaction with matter.
Compton used a combination of three fundamental formulas
representing the various aspects of classical and modern
physics, combining them to describe the quantum behavior of
light:

1.Light as a particle, as noted in the photoelectric effect

2.Relativistic dynamics: special theory of relativity
3.Trigonometry: law of cosines
We can think of the photon as losing an amount of
energy in the collision that is the same as the kinetic energy
(KE) gained by the electron, although actually separate
photons are involved. If the initial photon has the frequency ν
associated with it, the scattered photon has the lower
frequency ν′ , where

Loss in photon energy = gain in electron energy

 Hν−hν′=KE(1)
And the momentum of a massless particle is related to its
energy by the formula

E=pc(2)
Since the energy of a photon is \(h\nu\), its momentum is

P=Ec=hνc(3)
Momentum, unlike energy is a vector quantity that
incorporates direction as well as magnitude, and in the
collision momentum must be conserved in each of two
mutually perpendicular directions (when more than two
bodies participate in a collision, momentum must be
conserved in each of three mutually perpendicular directions).
The directions we choose here are that of the original photon
and one perpendicular to it in the plane containing the
electron and the scattered photon (Figure 2 ).
 Figure 2 The initial photon momentum is hν/c ,
the scattered photon momentum is hν′/c , and the initial and
final electron momenta are respectively 0 and p. In the original
photon direction

Initial momentum = final momentum

Hν/c+0=(hν′/c)cosθ+pcosϕ(4)
And perpendicular to this direction

Initial momentum= final momentum

0=(hν′/c)sinθ−psinϕ(5)
From Equation (1)(4)(5), we can find a formula that relates the
wavelength difference between initial and scattered photons
with the angle θ between their directions, both of which are
readily measurable quantities (unlike the energy and
momentum of the recoil electron).

The first step Is to multiply Eqs (4)(5) by c and rewrite them as

(pc)cosϕ=hν−(hν′)cosθ(6)
(pc)sinϕ=(hν′)sinθ(7)
By squaring each of these equations and adding the new ones
together, the angle ϕ is eliminated, leaving

P2c2=(hν)2−2(hν)(hν′)cosθ+(hν′)2(8)
Next we equate the two expressions for the total energy of a
particle

E=KE+mc2(9)
E=m2c4+p2c2−−−−−−−−−−√(10)
From equation(1), we have

P2c2=(hν)2−2(hν)(hν′)+(hν′)2+2mc2(hν−hν′)(11)
Substituting this value of p2c2 in Eq.(8), we finally obtain

2mc2(hν−hν′)=2(hν)(hν′)(1−cosθ)(12)
This relationship is simpler when expressed in terms of
wavelength λ .Dividing Eq.(12) by 2h2c2 ,

Mc/h(ν/c−ν′/c)=(ν/c)(ν′/c)(1−cosθ)(13)
And so, since
ν/c=1/λ and ν′/c=1/λ′
Mc/h(1/λ−1/λ′)=(1−cosθ)/λλ′(14)
Λ−λ′=h/mc(1−cosθ)(15)
Equation(15) gives the change in wavelength expected for a
photon that is scattered through the angle θ by a particle
mass m . This change is independent of the wavelength λ of
incident photon. The quantity

Λc=hmc(16)
Is called the Compton wavelength of the scattering particle.
For an electron λc=2.426×10−12m . In terms of λc , Eq.(15)
becomes

Λ−λ′=λc(1−cosθ)(17)
The Compton wavelength gives the scale of the wavelength
change of the incident photon. From Eq.(17) we note that the
greatest wavelength change possible corresponds to θ=180o ,
when the wavelength change will be twice the Compton
wavelength λc . Because λc=0.00243nm for an electron, and
even less for other particles owing to their larger rest masses,
the maximum wavelength change in the Compton effect is
0.004852 nm.
 Figure 3 If the photon is of lower energy, but still
has sufficient energy (in general a few eV, right around the
energy of visible light), it can eject an electron from its host
atom entirely (a process known as the photoelectric effect),
instead of undergoing Compton scattering. Higher energy
photons (~MeV) may be able to bombard the nucleus and
cause an electron and a positron to be formed, a process
called pair production.

Applications:
Compton scattering is of prime importance to
radiobiology, as it happens to be the most probable interaction
of high energy X rays with atomic nuclei in living beings and is
applied in radiation therapy. In material physics, Compton
scattering can be used to probe the wave function of the
electrons in matter in the momentum representation. Compton
scattering is an important effect in gamma spectroscopy which
gives rise to the Compton edge, as it is possible for the gamma
rays to scatter out of the detectors used. Compton suppression
is used to detect stray scatter gamma rays

Why is Compton effect not

observed in daily life?
Compton effect happens with visible lights
but, it is so less that it is unnoticeable. Any new photons are
used by using kinetic energy of electrons. It only becomes
observable when photons energies are in range of 100eV that
happens in case of X-rays. Hence, compton effect is not
observed with visible lights.

How Compton effect is used in astronomy ?

Compton Scattering Detectors :

Tin this gamma-ray energy range, astronomers

can study nuclear emission lines, pulsars, active galaxies, solar
flares, and gamma-ray bursts. This is also the energy range
where Compton scattering is the dominant physical interaction
between light and matter.

Why carbon is used in Compton effect?

Carbon was chosen as our scattering target
because of its low-atomic number.

Compton effect in radiology?

Compton effect or Compton scatter is one of
principle forms of photon interaction. It is the main cause of
scattered radiation in a material. It occurs due to the interaction
of the photon (x-ray or gamma) with free electrons (unattached
to atoms) or loosely bound valence shell (outer shell) electrons.
Reference:
1.http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Compton_scattering
2.A. Beiser. “ Concepts of Modern Physics 6th edition ” p. 75-79
(ISBN 007-123460-8)
3.http://faculty.gvsu.edu/majumdak/public_html/OnlineMateri
als/ModPhys/QM/QM1.htm
4.http://physics.about.com/od/quantump…ptoneffect.htm
5.forums.phys.unsw.edu.au/main/viewtopic.php?t=871
6.http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/blusky.html#c2