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Compton scattering
1. Show that a photon cannot transfer all of its energy to a free electron.
(Hint: Energy and momentum must be conserved.)
Answer
The conservation of linear momentum implies,
h
= pe ,
(1)
= pe c,
using (1).
Therefore, the total energy of electron can be found using the relativistic expression,
Ee =
(m0 c2 )2 + (pc)2
hc( )
( )
2h 1
hc
m0 c K
2h2
m0 K
2h2
m0 K
2h2
2h
2 +
m0 c
m0 K
2
12
+ (4.85 10 ) (2 1022 )
= K
= K
= K
=
2h
)
m0 c
2h
= 2 +
m0 c
= ( +
= 0
= 0.
b b2 4ac
=
2a
+
(1243 eV nm) (4.86 1012 pm)
=
(400 109 m)(4.86 1012 pm + 400 109 m)
= 3.7 105 eV.
K = hf
(b) If the violet photon transfers all of its energy to the electron, it will acquire an
energy given by,
hc
1243 eV nm
=
400 nm
= 3.1 eV,
E =
which is very large as compared to the energy acquired in the Compton eect. Photoelectric eect may or may not take place depending on the metals work function.
(c) Violet light cannot eject electrons from a metal surface due to Compton eect
because the energy transferred by the X-ray photons (3.7 105 eV) is much smaller
than typical work functions.
4. An electron initially at rest recoils from a head-on collision with a photon.
Show that the kinetic energy acquired by the electron is 2hf /(1 + 2),
where is the ratio of the photons initial energy to the rest energy of the
electron.
+
2h
2h
hf
, using =
2h
m0 c
m0 c( + m0 c )
2h hf
( m c+2h )
m0 c m0 0 c
2hf hf
(
)
2hf
mo c f + m
0c
2hf hf
)
(
m0 c2 1 + m2hf
2
0c
2hf
hf
, where =
,
1 + 2
m0 c2
K = hf
=
=
=
=
=
cot =
2
hf
1+
m0 c2
)
tan ,
(2)
between the direction of motion of the scattered photon and the recoil
electron in the Compton eect.
Answer
hc
= momentum of incident photon.
hc
p1 = = momentum of scattering photon an angle .
p1 sin
p1 cos
1
hf
cot
p1 c sin
1
cot
sin
sin
cos
sin
( cos ) +
sin
h
(1 cos ) + mc
(1 cos )
sin
hf
(1 cos ) + mc
2 (1 cos )
sin
1 cos
2 sin 2 cos 2
1 cos2 2 + sin2 2
hf
c
2 sin 2 cos 2
2 sin2 2
= cot
2
6. (a) In considering the Compton eect, how would you compare the scattering of photons from bound and free electrons?
(b) An X-ray photon has sucient energy to overcome the work function.
What determines whether the photoelectric or Compton eect takes place?
Answer (a) In the Compton eect, if the electron is bound to an atom, the atom as
a whole will recoil, carrying away most of the energy in the collision. This means the
change in wavelength (and energy) of the scattered electron is smaller, may be even
indetectable. This is shown by =
h
(1 cos )
Mc
nphotons =
To calculate number density of air molecules, we use ideal gas equation as follows,
P V = nRT,
where n is the number of moles and V is the volume of the gas. Therefore,
P =
n
=
V
No. density of air molecules =
=
=
n
RT
V
P
RT
NA P
RT
6.02 1023 mole 1.01 105 Pa
8.314 J K1 mole1 298 K
2.5 1025 molecules m3 .
nphotons = nroom
1026 kg m3
=
mp
1.67 1027 kg
6 protons/m3 .
7