Question

In a Compton scattering experiment, an x-ray photon scatters through an angle of 13.4° from a free electron that is initially at rest. The electron recoils with a speed of 1,560 km/s.

(a) Calculate the wavelength of the incident photon. In nm

(b) Calculate the angle through which the electron scatters.

Answer 1

Let final and initial wavelengths be . h= Planck's constant and c is speed of light. m=mass of electron, v=velocity of electron

So from Compton scattering formula,

..........1

Also from energy conservation

..........(2)

............(3)from (1) and (2)

Using (1) and (3) we get

b)

From momentum conservation along y direction

=angle through which the electron scatters