6/12/2023

COMPTON EFFECT: scattering of monoch romatic X-rays from carbon

targets

Collimating
slits

.... ·- ·- -· ... .. ,
·- ..I - .
I
I
X-ray I
I
source I
I

A 1-4 =- 2.2 X 10- 3 nm

C/1 l) = 00 90°
C
s
E

Wavelen th

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6/12/202~

• the scattered X-rays had wavelengths different from those of the

incident X-rays
• The difference in the wavelength ('1.2 - '1. 1 = .1'1.), is called the
Compton shift.
• At any scattering angle 0, Compton shift depends only on the
scattering angle and not on the intensity of the incident radiation.

• the scattering of X-rays from the target is treated as the collision

between an electron in the target and a photon in the incident
beam
• Due to the collision, the recoiling electron would absorb some of
the momentum of the photon
• If the incident photon has an energy hv1 and momentum hvi , the
C
hv2
scattered photon would have a lesser momentum - C (v2 < v 1 )
and hence a lower energy hv2 , corresponding to a higher
wavelength.

Before collision:
Photon's frequency: v 1
Photon's initial energy: Ei = hv1

Photon's initial momentum: Pi = hvi

C

Relativistic electron is at rest

i.e. initial momentum of electron =O
Initial energy of electron = mec 2
After collision:
energy of electron =E
momentum of electron=p
Photon's frequency: v 2
Photon's energy: Et Photon's momentum: Pt

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 6/12/2023

Pt ·Pt = PiPtCOS8 (1)

(2) (Energy conservation)

Pi= Pt+ P (3) (momentum conservation)

Relativistic energy of a particle is given as £ 2 = p 2 c 2 + me 2 c 4

Square equation (2)

After solving,

2
Ei - Et] +2me C [Ei
- - Et]
[-
C
-
C C
- =p 2
C

In terms of momentum,
2
[Pi - Pt] + 2mec[pi - Pr]= P2 @
From (3),

Pi - Pt= P Or

p2 = p2 i + p2 f - 2PiPtCOS0

After solving it, W C.1<J_zj

p·-Pt 1
' = - ( 1 - cos0)
PiPf m8 c

2.__2_ = ..2-(1- cos0)

Pf Pi mec
. h
Smce p = -
A.
It
.il.2 - .il.1 = -
•
(1 - cosfJ)
mec

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• The constant _!2_ is called the Compton wavelength of the

m6c
electron

• The peak at the original wavelength '1-1 is due to the collision of

the photon with the tightly bound inner electrons in the atoms of
the target. In this process, the entire atom, and not just the
electron recoils due to scattering.
• Since the mass of an atom is about 104 times the mass of an
electron, the shift in wavelength due to the recoil of an atom is
negligible.

• The Compton experiment established the wave-particle duality of

electromagnetic radiation

Problem:
X-rays of wavelength 50.0 pm are incident on a target. Calculate the
wavelength of the scattered X-rays at the angles of (i) 45° and (ii)
60°.

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Planck's quantization of photon (EM wave) energy: particle nature

De Broglie hypothesis
It states that "just as electromagnetic radiation has the
characteristics of both waves and particles, all forms of matter
should also have both particle and wave properties".

The wavelength of the matter wave associated with a particle having

. . ., h
Imear momentum p 1s: /\. = -
p

The frequency of the matter wave is: v = !

The de Broglie wavelength of a particle of mass m carrying charge q,
and accelerated from rest through a potential difference V, is given
h
by: J = -
p

p2
Kinetic energy K=-
2m

Or p = v2mK

For a charge q accelerated from rest through a potential difference

K= qV

So, the de Broglie wavelength is

h
A= h
'l/2mK

Problem:
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of an electron accelerated from
rest through a potential difference of 100 V.

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 6/12/2023

Problem: a proto n and ii) an alpha

Calculate the de Broglie wave leng th of i)
The mass of an alpha
particle, each having kinet ic ener gy 4.0 keV.
27
particle is 6.644 x 10- kg.

Problem:
of an idea l gas at a
The average kinet ic energy of a mole cule
calculate the average de
temp eratu re Tis¾ K 8 T. Using this relat ion,
en mole cules at room
Broglie wavelength of a gas of oxyg
oxygen mole cule to be
temp eratu re (300 K). Take the mass of the
5.31 X 10-26 kg

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