Compton effect
E99416
The Compton effect is the increase in wavelength (and corresponding decrease in energy) of X-rays or gamma rays when they scatter off electrons, providing key evidence for the particle nature of light.
Aliases (3)
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
physical phenomenon
→
quantum effect → scattering process → |
| alsoKnownAs |
Compton scattering
→
|
| category |
Quantum mechanics
→
Radiation physics → Scattering theory → |
| conserves |
energy
→
momentum → |
| contradicts |
classical wave theory of light alone
→
|
| dependsOn |
scattering angle
→
|
| describes |
decrease in energy of X-rays or gamma rays after scattering
→
increase in wavelength of X-rays or gamma rays after scattering → |
| hasApplicationIn |
astrophysics
→
gamma-ray spectroscopy → material analysis → medical imaging → radiation therapy → |
| hasClassicalLimit |
Thomson scattering
→
|
| hasFormulaForShift |
Δλ = (h / (m_e c)) (1 − cos θ)
→
|
| hasKeyEquation |
λ' − λ = (h / (m_e c)) (1 − cos θ)
→
|
| hasMaximumShiftAt |
scattering angle 180 degrees
→
|
| hasQuantity |
Compton wavelength
→
Compton wavelength shift → |
| hasSymbol |
Δλ
→
|
| involves |
electrons
→
photons → |
| isDescribedIn |
quantum electrodynamics
→
|
| isImportantFor |
high-energy astrophysical sources
→
understanding radiation shielding → |
| isTypeOf |
inelastic scattering
→
|
| maximumWavelengthShift |
2 h / (m_e c)
→
|
| namedAfter |
Arthur Holly Compton
→
|
| occursInRegime |
high-energy photons
→
|
| occursMoreStronglyFor |
larger scattering angles
→
|
| occursOn |
free electrons
→
loosely bound electrons → |
| occursWith |
X-rays
→
gamma rays → |
| providesEvidenceFor |
photon concept
→
quantum theory → |
| relatedTo |
Klein–Nishina formula
→
Thomson scattering → photoelectric effect → |
| shows |
particle nature of light
→
|
| usedTo |
calibrate high-energy photon detectors
→
measure electron momentum distributions → |
| wasExplainedBy |
Arthur Holly Compton
→
|
| yearExplained |
1923
→
|
Referenced by (6)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Arthur H. Compton
→
Arthur H. Compton ("Compton scattering") → |
knownFor |
|
Compton effect
("Compton scattering")
→
|
alsoKnownAs |
|
Compton effect
("Compton wavelength shift")
→
|
hasQuantity |
|
quantum electrodynamics
("Compton scattering")
→
|
predicts |
|
Klein–Nishina formula
("Compton scattering formula for photon energy shift")
→
|
relatedTo |