Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

Compton Effect
When X-rays falls on matter, it is scattered without
any change in wavelength. This type of scattering is known
as unmodified or coherent scattering. In 1922, Compton
using Bragg’s spectrometer discovered that some part of
scattered X-rays has higher wavelength as compared to the
incident X-rays. This type of scattering is known as
modified or incoherent scattering. The phenomenon in
which the wavelength of the incident X-rays increases and
hence the energy decreases due to scattering from an atom
is known as Compton’s effect. In this case, an electron is
also ejected with an energy depending upon its direction.
This electron is known as Compton recoil electron. See
Figure
Expression for Compton shift
Compton calculated mathematically, the increase in the wavelength, which is also known as
Compton shift. He assumed the following assumptions:
1. The X-rays of frequency v (wavelength λ) consists of energy hv (or hc / λ) and momentum
hv / c (or h / λ).
2. The recoil atomic electron is assumed to free as well as stationary before the scattering.
3. The collision between the high energy X-ray photon and the electron is elastic.
4. The energy and momentum carried by scattered X-ray photon and the recoil electron is
governed by the conservation laws of energy and momentum.
Suppose that in Compton scattering, we have
hv = Energy of the incident X-ray photon.
hv΄ = Energy of the scattered X-ray photon.
hv / c = Momentum of incident X-ray photon.
hv΄ / c = Momentum of scattered X-ray photon.
Φ = Angle of scattering for the scattered X-ray photon.
θ = Angle of recoil for the recoiled electron.
mo = Rest mass of the electron.
m = Relativistic mass of the electron.

The situations before and after Compton Scattering are shown in following figures

Before scattering
Stationary
Incident Electron
Photon
Energy = m0c2
Energy = h Momentum = 0
Momentum = h/c

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

After scattering
(h′/ c) sin φ

Energy = h′
Momentum = h′/c

Incident Scattered Photon

Photon φ
(h′/ c) cos φ
mv cos θ
Energy = h θ
Momentum = h/c

Energy = mc2
Momentum = mv

mv sin θ Recoil Electron

Applying conservation law of energy for the Compton scattering, we have

h  mo c 2  h   mc 2
or mc 2  h  mo c 2  h 
or mc 2  h(   )  mo c 2
Squaring both sides, we have
[mc 2 ] 2  [h(   )  mo c 2 ]2
i.e., m 2 c 4  [h 2 (   ) 2  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )]
i.e., m 2 c 4  [h 2 ( 2    2  2 )  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )] --- (1)
Applying conservation law of momentum along horizontal direction for the Compton scattering,
we have
h h 
 cos   mv cos 
c c
h h 
i.e., mv cos    cos 
c c
i.e., mvc cos   h  h  cos  --- (2)
Applying conservation law of momentum along vertical direction for the Compton scattering, we
have
h 
0 sin   mv sin 
c
i.e, mvc sin   h  sin  --- (3)
Squaring and adding Eqs. (2) & (3), we have
(mvc cos ) 2  (mvc sin  ) 2  (h  h  cos  ) 2  (h  sin  ) 2
or m 2 v 2 c 2  h 2 (    cos  ) 2  (h  sin  ) 2

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

or m 2 v 2 c 2  h 2 ( 2    2 cos 2   2  cos  )  (h 2  2 sin 2  )

or m 2 v 2 c 2  h 2 ( 2    2  2  cos  ) --- (4)
Subtracting Eq. (4) from (1), we get

m 2 c 4  m 2 v 2 c 2  [h 2 ( 2    2  2 )  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )]  h 2 ( 2    2  2  cos  ) or

m 2 c 4  m 2 v 2 c 2  [(2h 2 )  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )]  (2h 2  cos  )
or m 2 c 2 (c 2  v 2 )  [2h 2 (1  cos  )  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )] --- (5)
The relativistic mass of the electron in terms of its rest mass can be expressed as
mo mo2
m or m 2 
v2 v2
1 2 1 2
c c
c 2 mo2
or m 2  or m 2 (c 2  v 2 )  c 2 mo2 --- (6)
c2  v2
Using (6) in (5), we get
mo2 c 4  [2h 2 (1  cos  )  mo2 c 4  2mo c 2 h(   )]
or 0  [2h 2 (1  cos  )  2mo c 2 h(   )]
or 2h 2 (1  cos  )  2mo c 2 h(   )]
or h (1  cos  )  mo c 2 (   )
or mo c 2 (   )  h (1  cos  )
c(   ) h
or  (1  cos  )
  mo c
c c h
or   (1  cos  )
   mo c
h
or     (1  cos  )
mo c
Thus, the shift  in the wavelength (which is known as Compton shift) of X-ray photon due to
Compton scattering from an electron is given by
h
       (1  cos  )
mo c
This relation is known as Compton equation. This shows that the increase in the wavelength or
Compton shift  is independent of the wavelength of the incident radiation and the nature of the
scattering substance.
For φ = 90o, cos φ = 0; so we have
h 6.62  10 34 o
    0 .0242 A
mo c 9.1  10 31  3  10 8
This value of Compton shift  is known as Compton wavelength and it is denoted by c. Thus,
Compton equation can be written as
  c (1  cos  )

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

Significance of Compton scattering

The Compton effect clearly shows the particle like nature of em-radiation. Thus, its
significance lies in the fact that it supports the concept of wave-particle duality.
Experimental verification of Compton effect
The apparatus used by Compton for experimental verification of Compton effect is shown
in Figure . Monochromatic X-rays of wavelength  from a Coolidge tube CT are allowed to fall
on a target material T like a small block of carbon. The scattered X-rays of wavelength ′ are
received by a Bragg’s spectrometer BS, which can move along the arc of a circle.
The wavelength of the scattered X-rays
is measured for different values of the
scattering angle. The plots of intensity of
BS scattered X-rays against their
CT
wavelength are shown in Figure for φ =
0o, 45o, 90o and 135o. These plots show
the two peaks for non-zero values of φ,
T which is the indication of the presence of
two distinct lines in the scattered X-ray
radiation. One of these lines is known as
unmodified line which has the same
wavelength as the incident radiation and
the other line is known as modified line which has the comparatively longer wavelength. The
Compton shift Δ is found to vary with the angle of scattering.

φ = 0o φ =45o φ = 90o φ = 135o

Δ Δ
Δ

Wavelength
Relation between angle of scattering φ and angle of scattering θ
Applying conservation law of momentum along horizontal and vertical directions for the Compton
scattering, we have
mvc cos   h  h  cos  --- (1)
& mvc sin   h  sin  --- (2)
Dividing Eq. (2) by (1), we have
mvc sin  h  sin 

mvc cos  h  h  cos 
  sin 
or tan  
    cos 

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

  sin 
or tan  
          cos 
  sin 
or tan   --- (3)
(   )   (1  cos  )

Compton equation is given by

h
       (1  cos  )
mo c
c c h
or   (1  cos  )
   mo c
c(   ) h
or  (1  cos  )
  mo c
h 
or (   )  (1  cos  ) --- (4)
mo c 2
Using Eq. (4) in (3), we have
  sin 
tan  
h  
(1  cos  )   (1  cos  )
mo c 2
1   sin 
or tan  
 h   (1  cos  )
 2
 1
 mo c 
 
2 sin cos
2 2 1
or tan  

[1  (1  2 sin 2 )] 1  h 
2 
 mo c 2 
 
2 sin cos
2 2 1
or tan  

[2 sin 2 ] 1  h 

2  
 mo c 2 

cot
or tan   2
 
 1  h 
 mo c 2 

This is the required relation between the angle of scattering φ and the angle of recoil θ.
Energy of Scattered X-ray photon
Let  and ΄ be frequencies of the incident and scattered X-ray photons, then their energies
are given by
E  h --- (1)
& E   h  --- (2)

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

According to Compton scattering relation, we have

h
  (1  cos )
mo c
h
or     (1  cos )
mo c
c c h
or   (1  cos )
   mo c
  h
or  (1  cos )
  m o c 2

 h
or    (1  cos )
mo c 2
(h )(h )
or h  h   (1  cos ) --- (3)
mo c 2
Using (1) & (2) in (3), we get
E E
or E  E  (1  cos )
mo c 2
E E
or E  E  (1  cos )
mo c 2
 E 
or E  E 1  2
(1  cos  ) 
 mo c 
E
or E 
 E 
1  2
( 1  cos  ) 
 mo c 
h
or E  [since E  h ]
 h 
1  2
(1  cos )
 mo c 
This is the required expression for the energy of the scattered X-ray photon.
For maximum energy of the kinetic energy of the recoil electron, the angle of scattering must be
equal to 90o. Thus, when φ = 90o, then E΄ = E΄max, i.e.,
h
E   [ E ]max  --- (4)
 h 
1  2
 mo c 
This is the required expression for the maximum energy of the scattered X-ray photon.

Kinetic energy of Recoil Electron

Let  and ΄ be frequencies of the incident and scattered X-ray photons, then the kinetic
energy of the recoil electron is given by

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

K  h  h   h(   )
   
or K  h  1    h  1   {since c =  = ΄΄}
     
       
or K  h    h   --- (1) {since  - ΄ = }
       
According to Compton scattering relation, we have
h
  (1  cos ) --- (2)
mo c
Eliminating  from Eq. (1) and (2), we get
 h   h 
 m c (1  cos )   m c (1  cos ) 
o o
K  h    h  
   h (1  cos )  1  h (1  cos ) 
 mo c   m c 
   o 
 h 
 2
(1  cos ) 
mo c h h
or K  h   --- (3) {since  }
 h  mo c mo c 2
1  2
(1  cos ) 
 m o c 
The Eqn. (3) is the required expression for the kinetic energy of the recoil electron.
For maximum energy of the kinetic energy of the recoil electron, the angle of scattering must be
equal to 180o. Thus, when φ = , then K = Kmax, i.e.,
 h   2 h 
 (1  cos )   
 mo c 2   mo c 2 
K max  [ K ]   h  h
 h   2 h 
1  2
(1  cos )  1  2 
 mo c   mo c 
2h 2 2
i.e., K max 
 2h 
mo c 2 1  2

 mo c 
This is the required expression for the maximum kinetic energy of the recoil electron.

Compton Effect for tightly bound atomic electron

In Compton Effect, it has been assumed that recoil atomic electron is assumed to free as
well as stationary before the scattering. This is only possible when the target element with low
atomic number and the incident X-ray photon has a high frequency. For elements with high atomic
numbers, their binding energy Eb cannot be ignored. Is such a case, the rest mass mo of the electron
is replaced by (mo + Eb / c2). Hence the Compton shift is given by
h
 
 E 
 mo  2b c
 c 

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta

Course: BPT-401 Compton Effect

As the binding energy depends upon the atomic number Z, the decrease in Δλ for heavy elements
is of the order of 10-2 λc. Hence, for a particular angle of scattering, the intensity of unmodified
peak will be greater for heavy elements and that of modified peak will be smaller.
Compton Effect cannot be observed for visible light
Consider a visible light photon of wavelength λ = 6000 Å = 6 × 10 -7 m. Then its energy is
given by
E = hv = hc / λ
= (6.6 × 10-34 × 3 × 108) / (6 × 10-7) Joules
= (6.6 × 10-34 × 3 × 108) / (1.6 × 10-19 × 6 × 10-7) eV
≈ 2 eV
Whereas the energy of an X-ray photon of wavelength λ = 1 Å = 10 -10 m will be more than ~ 1000
times the above value.
The binding energy of the electron in the atoms is of the order of the 10 eV. For example,
the binding energy of the electron in the hydrogen atom is
2  2 k 2 Z 2 me 4
Eb 
h2
Where k = 1 / 4πεo = 9 × 109 Nm2 / coul2, m = 9.1 × 10-31 kg, h = 6.6 × 10-34 J-s, e = 1.6
× 10-19 coul, Z = 1, we get

Eb = [(2π2 × (1.6 × 10-19) × (9 × 109)2 × (9.1 × 10-31)] / [(6.6 × 10-34)] Joules

= (2π2 × 1.6 × 10-19 × 81 × 1018 × 9.1 × 10-31) / [(6.6 × 10-34) × (1.6 × 10-19)] eV
= 13.6 eV

Hence this electron can be treated as free when X-rays are incident but this electron cannot be
treated as free for visible light. Hence Compton Effect cannot be observed for visible light.

Mentor: Dr. Neeraj Mehta