COMPTON SCATTERING

In 1916, Einstein extended his concept of light quanta (photons) by proposing that a quantum of
light has linear momentum.
The energy of photon is,
𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 𝑒𝑞(1)
And it’s magnitude is,
𝑐
𝑃 = ℎ⁄𝜆 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆, 𝑣 = 𝑐 𝑠𝑜, 𝜆 =
𝑓
ℎ𝑓
𝑝= 𝑒𝑞(2)
𝑐
➢ when a photon interacts with matter, energy and momentum are transferred, as if there were
a collision between the photon and matter in the classical sense. In 1923, Arthur Compton
directed a beam of x rays of wavelength λ onto a target made of carbon, as shown in Fig.(a)

Figure (a) Compton’s apparatus. A beam of x rays of wavelength λ = 71.1 pm is directed onto
a carbon target T. The x rays scattered from the target are observed at various angles ϕ to the
direction of the incident beam. The detector measures both the intensity of the scattered x
rays and their wavelength.

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 ➢ An x ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation, at high frequency and thus small
wavelength. Compton measured the wavelengths and intensities of the x rays that were
scattered in various directions from his carbon target. Figure (b) shows results.

Figure (b) Compton’s results for four values of the scattering angle ϕ. Note that the Compton shift Δλ
increases as the scattering angle increases.

EXPLANATION:
➢ Although there is only a single wavelength (λ = 71.1 pm) in the incident x-ray beam, we
see that the scattered x rays contain a range of wavelengths with two prominent intensity
peaks. One peak is centered about the incident wavelength λ, the other about a wavelength
λʹ that is longer than λ by an amount Δλ, which is called the Compton shift. The value of
the Compton shift varies with the angle at which the scattered x rays are detected and is
greater for a greater angle.
CLASSICAL THEORY:
➢ The incident x-ray beam is a sinusoidally oscillating electromagnetic wave. An electron in
the carbon target should oscillate sinusoidally due to the oscillating electric force on it from
the wave’s electric field. Further, the electron should oscillate at the same frequency as the
wave and should send out waves at this same frequency, as if it were a tiny transmitting
antenna. Thus, the x rays scattered by the electron should have the same frequency, and the
same wavelength, as the x rays in the incident beam—but they don’t.

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COMPTON INTERRETATION:
➢ Compton interpreted the scattering of x rays from carbon in terms of energy and
momentum transfers, via photons, between the incident x-ray beam and loosely bound
electrons in the carbon target.
➢ Suppose a single photon (of energy E = hf) is associated with the interaction between the
incident x-ray beam and a stationary electron. In general, the direction of travel of the
x-ray will change (the x ray is scattered), and the electron will recoil, which means that the
electron has obtained some kinetic energy.
➢ Energy is conserved in this isolated interaction. Thus, the energy of the scattered photon
(Eʹ = hfʹ) must be less than that of the incident photon. The scattered x rays must then have
a lower frequency fʹ and thus a longer wavelength λʹ than the incident x-rays. Equation 3
represents the Compton shift.
ℎ
∆𝜆 = (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜑) 𝑒𝑞. (3)
𝑚𝑐

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