L-2(Applied Physics) Z.

Hasan

Compton Effect
(confirms particle nature of photon)

 This is scattering of photon by an electron i.e. when a photon of suitable

energy (x-ray photon) strikes to a loosely bound electron of an atom,
photon is scattered in one direction and electron in other, this is called
Compton effect
 like two billiard balls

Scattered e-
 photon electron
Before
Collision
E=0
hʋ

scattered photon
ℎʋ’
hʋ’
sinφ 𝑐
𝑐

After ℎʋ’

Collision  𝑐
cosφ
x
θ p cosθ
p
p sinθ
electron
• hʋ energy of incident photon
• hʋ’ energy of scattered photon
ℎν
• 𝑐 momentum of incident photon
ℎν′
• momentum of scattered photon
𝑐
Using conservation laws for energy and momentum
From conservation of energy
loss of photon energy = gain in K. E. of electron
ℎʋ - ℎʋ’ = K.E. …………(1)
From conservation of momentum
initial momentum (before collision) = final momentum (after collision)
(along x-axis)
ℎʋ ℎʋ’
+0= cosφ + p cosθ
𝑐 𝑐
pc cosθ = ℎʋ − ℎʋ’ cosφ ………….(2)
initial momentum(before collision) = final momentum (after collision)
(along y-axis)
ℎʋ’
0+0= sinφ - p sinθ
𝑐
pc sinθ = ℎʋ’ sinφ …………(3)
Squaring eqn (2) & (3) & adding
(𝑝𝑐)2 = (ℎʋ)2 + (ℎʋ)’2 - 2ℎʋ ℎʋ’ cosφ ……..(4)
total energy of electron (E)
E = K.E. + 𝑚0 𝑐 2 , where 𝑚0 𝑐 2 is rest mass energy of electron
Also, E = (𝑝𝑐)2 +(𝑚0 𝑐 2 )2
K.E. + 𝑚0 𝑐 2 = (𝑝𝑐)2 +(𝑚0 𝑐 2 )2
(K.E. + 𝑚0𝑐 2 )2 = (𝑝𝑐)2 +(𝑚0𝑐 2 )2
𝐾𝐸 2 + (𝑚0 𝑐 2 )2 + 2 KE 𝑚0 𝑐 2 = (𝑝𝑐)2 +(𝑚0 𝑐 2 )2
(𝑝𝑐)2 = 𝐾𝐸 2 + 2 KE 𝑚0 𝑐 2
(𝑝𝑐)2 = (ℎʋ − ℎʋ′ )2 +2 𝑚0 𝑐 2 (ℎʋ - ℎʋ’)
(𝑝𝑐)2 = (ℎʋ)2 + (ℎʋ)’2 −2ℎʋ ℎʋ’+ 2 𝑚0 𝑐 2 (ℎʋ - ℎʋ’) ……….. (5)
Equating (4) & (5)
(ℎʋ)2 + (ℎʋ)’2 - 2ℎʋ ℎʋ’ cosφ = (ℎʋ)2 + (ℎʋ)’2 −2ℎʋ ℎʋ’+ 2 𝑚0 𝑐 2 (ℎʋ - ℎʋ’)
2ℎʋ ℎʋ’(1 – cosφ) = 2 𝑚0 𝑐 2 (ℎʋ - ℎʋ’)
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
𝑚0 𝑐 2 × ℎ − = h ×h (1 – cosφ)
λ λ′ λ λ′
 ℎ
λ’ - λ = 1 − cosφ
𝑚0 𝑐
Compton effect
∆λ = λ’- λ= Compton shift
ℎ
λ𝑐 = , called Compton wavelength of electron
𝑚0 𝑐
h= 6.6 ×10−34 j-s
𝑚0 = .511 𝑀𝑒𝑉/𝑐 2
c = 3× 108 m/s
λ𝑐 = 2.42 × 10−12 𝑚 = 2.42 pm
ℎ
∆λ = 1 − cosφ
𝑚0 𝑐
For max. ∆λ, cosφ will be min. (i.e min value of cosφ is -1)
ℎ
∆λ𝑚𝑎𝑥 = × 2 = 2.42 × 2 = 4.84 𝑝𝑚
𝑚0 𝑐
Experimental demonstration of Compton effect
Numerical Problems
Q1. A monochromatic x-ray beam whose wavelength is 55.8 pm is scattered
through 460. Find the wavelength of scattered beam.
Q2. A beam of x-ray is scattered by a target. At 450from the beam direction the
scattered x-rays have a wavelength of 2.2 pm. What is the wavelength of the x-rays
in the direct beam?
Q3. X-rays of wavelength 10.0 pm are scattered from a target. (a) Find the
wavelength of x-rays scattered through 450. (b) Find the maximum wavelength
present in the scattered x-rays.