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Compton Scattering

Introduction: In this experiment, the `Compton’ scattering of X-ray photons is studied. Compton
scattering is an `inelastic scattering’ process where the X-ray photon experiences a change in
wavelength. Historically, this phenomenon was observed in the labs and several `classical’ theories
were put forth to explain this shift in wavelength. All these theories treated the X-rays as
electromagnetic `waves’ and predicted this phenomenon as occurring at extremely large intensities
of the radiation. However, contrary to such estimates, this phenomenon was observed in the lab at
extremely small intensities. Compton explained this phenomenon in a very simple way – by treating
the X-rays as comprising particles called photons each of which undergoes a simple elastic collision
with an electron, which can be approximated to be at rest. This simple model gave predictions very
close to the observed phenomenon. It is this explanation by Compton that gave it the name
Compton Effect. And since this model explains the observed results, Compton effect is often
considered a stronger evidence of particle behavior of light than photo-electric effect.

Principle of the Experiment:

In this experiment, the X-ray photon emitted by a Cu-Coolidge tube interacts with the electron in an
acrylic glass slab (Scatterer). The intensity of the incident and scattered radiation is measured with
a GM counter tube. A GM tube can only measure the intensities of incident radiation and therefore
cannot resolve the energies (frequencies or wavelengths) of the incident photons. In order to
measure the wavelengths, we have to resort to an indirect method. The wavelengths of incident
and scattered photons are measured by measuring the transmission coefficient of X-rays through
Al foil and the Compton shift is then verified by comparison with theory.

Required Apparatus:
XR 4.0 X-ray unit , XR 4.0 X-ray Goniometer, XR 4.0 X-ray plug-in unit with a Cu X-ray tube,
XR 4.0 X- ray diaphragm tube with d = 2 mm, XR 4.0 X-ray diaphragm tube with d = 5 mm,
XR 4.0 GM Counter tube (type B) and XR 4.0 X-ray lithium fluoride crystal, mounted in a
holder

Figure1 : X-ray unit with Goniometer and laptop Figure 2: Experimental parameters

Tasks
1) Read about Compton scattering and Geiger-Müller (GM) counter tube.
2) Determine the transmission of an aluminum absorber as a function of the Bragg angle
and plot it as a function of the wavelength of the radiation.
3) Measure the intensity of the radiation that is scattered at 400and 1200 due to an acrylic
glass slab with and without an absorber.
4) Determine the Compton wavelength of the electron based on the transmission coefficient.
5) Determine Compton wavelength of the electrons.
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Setup for X-ray unit: The experiment is setup on the table and will be explained by the

Calibrating the wavelength in terms of the transmission coefficient:

a) Measure transmission coefficient of X-ray photons through Al - absorber as a function of

wavelength. The transmission coefficient (TC) is nothing but the ratio of Number of
transmitted photons to that of incident photons. TC depends linearly on the wavelength of
the incident photons.
b) Thus if the transmission coefficient is measured the wavelength and hence energy
(wavelength) of the photons can be inferred. In the experiment the TC is determined for
incident and scattered photon and hence their wavelengths can be determined.

Settings: Insert the lithium fluoride (LiF) crystal in Goniometer and an aperture of 2 mm diameter
into the beam outlet of the X-ray tube. The following setting should be used for the experimental
parameters.

1) 1:2 coupling mode

2) Gate time 100 s (gate timer); angle step width 0.1°
3) Scanning range 7.5° < θ < 9.5°
4) Anode voltage UA = 35 kV; anode current IA = 1 mA

Procedure:
1) Determine the pulse rate N1 (θ) of the X-rays scattered by the crystal between the glancing
angle = (7.5–9.5)°in steps of 0.1° .
2) Using glancing angles s and the Bragg relationship, the associated wavelengths λ are
obtained. with d = 201.4 pm for LiF-(200) interplanar spacing and n = 1.
3) Repeat the measurement after you have positioned the aluminum absorber in front of the
outlet of the X-ray plugin unit using the plate holder mounted in the slide mount on the optical
bench to measure the pulse rate N2(θ).
4) In order to keep the relative error of N as small as possible, high rates are necessary (refer
to the note given in page three).

5) At high pulse rates, however, the dead time of the counter tube must be taken into
consideration since the counter tube does not register all of the incident photons. The true
pulse rate can be obtained using the following the relation

The correction can also be made using the measure software itself. Select “analysis”, then “X-
ray spectroscopy” and “dead time correction”. Now you can either create a new measurement
with the corrected data or add the corrected graph into the old measurement.

6) The true pulse rates are then used to determine the transmission coefficient It is

then plotted as a function of λ. Obtain a linear equation for λ. in terms of TC. This linear
relation will serve as the `look-up table’ or the translation key for the rest of the
experiment.
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Task 2: Compton Scattering
1) Remove the LiF crystal and replace it with the acrylic glass scatterer.
2) Position this at an angle of 10° (see Fig 3). Replace the diaphragm
tube with an aperture of d = 5 mm. Turn the GM counter tube to 450.
3) Measure the pulse rates using the following set-ups:
N3: with the acrylic glass scatterer but without the aluminum absorber
N4: with the acrylic glass scatterer and with the
aluminum absorber in position 1 (use the plate
holder to fix it).

N5: with the acrylic glass scatterer and with the aluminum absorber in
position 2.

1) For the measurement of N4, position the aluminum absorber

between the diaphragm and the scatterer (use the plate
holder to fix it). For the measurement of N5, the aluminum
absorber is fastened to the GM counter tube by pushing it
into the diaphragm that is installed in front of the counter
tube.
2) For every setup, note down three measurement values. The
measuring time is 100 seconds.

Figure3: Schematic diagram

showing the position of Al-
absorber.
3) Determine the transmission coefficient and hence the wavelength of the photon when
a) Al-absorber is in position one. From this the wave length of incident X-ray photons can
be determined.
b) Al-absorber is in position two. From this the wave length of scattered X-ray photons
can be determined for the particular angle.
4) Determine the wavelength of the scattered photons at different angles. From this find the
difference in the wavelength of the scattered and incident wavelength. Compare it with the
theoretical prediction

mo is the rest mass of electron and c is the speed of light.

Note: For the measured number of incident photon N, the relative error in N is given by the
ratio:
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Assignments questions:
1) Why is acrylic glass slab chosen as scatterer?
2) If Compton modeled the X-ray photon and the electron as undergoing an elastic
collision, why is Compton scattering called `inelastic scattering’?
3) What are the different kinds of scattering process a photon can undergo with electron?
Compton scattering belongs to which type?
4) What are the differences between photoelectric effect and Compton scattering?
5) Why GM counter cannot detect energy?
6) Derive the expression for the wavelength of the Compton scattered photon

Lab report
1) Answers to Assignments questions.
2) Data and graph for transmission coefficient as a function of wavelength. Expression for
λ in terms of TC.
3) Data for N3, N4 and N5 for different angles along with TC.
4) Determination of Wavelength of incident and scattered photon at different angles
5) Appropriate graph for determination of Compton wavelength of electron.
6) Results and conclusions.
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