Calculate the wavelength shift of a photon after scattering from an electron.
Input Parameters
Calculation Results
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Quick Reference
ΔλWavelength Shift
hPlanck's Constant
mₑRest Mass of Electron
cSpeed of Light
θScattering Angle
Overview
Compton scattering is the scattering of a photon by a charged particle, usually an electron. It results in a decrease in energy (increase in wavelength) of the photon.
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Pro Tips
The wavelength shift depends only on the scattering angle, not the initial wavelength.
The maximum wavelength shift occurs at 180 degrees (backscattering).
Enter the angle in degrees.
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Fun Facts
"Arthur Compton received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1927 for discovering this effect."
"Compton scattering provided critical evidence that light can behave as a particle (photon)."
"This effect is significant in X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy."
