Comptonstreuung

Compton scattering, also known as Compton effect, is a phenomenon in physics that describes the scattering of a photon, such as an X-ray or gamma-ray, by a free charged particle, commonly an electron. This process was first observed by Arthur Compton in 1923 and is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics.

During Compton scattering, the photon collides with the electron, transferring some of its energy and momentum to the particle. As a result, the photon is deflected and its wavelength is increased. The amount of energy transferred to the electron depends on the energy of the incident photon and the scattering angle.

The Compton effect is typically observed in the gamma-ray or X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the energies of the photons are high enough to interact with the electrons in the material. Compton scattering is used in various applications, including medical imaging, material analysis, and astronomical observations.

The Compton wavelength, which is the wavelength of a photon after it has scattered off an electron, is given by the equation λ' = λ + (h/mc) * (1 - cos θ), where λ is the initial wavelength, h is Planck's constant, m is the mass of the electron, c is the speed of light, and θ is the scattering angle.

Compton scattering is an essential process in understanding the interaction between matter and radiation. It demonstrates the particle-like behavior of light, which is a key concept in quantum mechanics and has significant implications for our understanding of the behavior of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.