Klein–Nishina formula
E83430
The Klein–Nishina formula is a fundamental result in quantum electrodynamics that gives the differential cross section for Compton scattering of photons by free electrons, incorporating relativistic and quantum effects.
Aliases (1)
Statements (45)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
equation in physics
→
physical law → result in quantum electrodynamics → |
| appliesTo |
scattering of photons by free electrons
→
|
| assumes |
initially free electron at rest
→
single‑photon scattering → |
| basedOn |
Dirac theory of the electron
→
quantum electrodynamics → |
| category |
equations of quantum electrodynamics
→
scattering cross sections → |
| characterizes |
polarization dependence of Compton scattering
→
|
| dependsOn |
classical electron radius
→
fine‑structure constant → incident photon energy → scattering angle → |
| describes |
differential cross section for Compton scattering
→
|
| domain |
relativistic quantum mechanics
→
|
| expressedIn |
natural units in high‑energy physics
→
|
| field |
high‑energy physics
→
particle physics → quantum electrodynamics → scattering theory → |
| generalizes |
Thomson scattering formula
→
|
| gives |
angular distribution of scattered photons in Compton scattering
→
energy dependence of Compton scattering cross section → |
| importantFor |
calibration of gamma‑ray detectors
→
understanding interaction of gamma rays with matter → |
| incorporates |
quantum effects
→
relativistic effects → |
| isSolutionOf |
tree‑level QED scattering amplitude for photon–electron scattering
→
|
| namedAfter |
Oskar Klein
→
Yoshio Nishina → |
| predicts |
anisotropic scattering at high photon energies
→
decrease of Compton cross section with increasing photon energy → |
| reducesTo |
Thomson cross section in the low‑energy limit
→
|
| relatedTo |
Compton scattering formula for photon energy shift
→
Compton wavelength of the electron → |
| relates |
incident photon energy to scattered photon energy and angle
→
|
| usedIn |
Monte Carlo simulations of radiation transport
→
detector design for high‑energy photons → gamma‑ray astronomy → medical physics → radiation physics → |
| validFor |
photon energies comparable to or larger than electron rest mass energy
→
|
| yearProposed |
1929
→
|
Referenced by (3)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Yoshio Nishina
("Klein–Nishina formula for Compton scattering")
→
|
knownFor |
|
Yoshio Nishina
→
|
notableWork |
|
Compton effect
→
|
relatedTo |