Question

Gamma rays of 1 MeV are Compton scattered at an angle of 80 degrees. What is the energy of the scattered photons and electrons? Determine the speed and angle of the electrons after the collision.

Answer 1

If E denotes the energy of the incident photon and E’ is that after Compton scattering then,

me is the electron mass and θ denotes the angle between incident and scattered photon

Given,

E=1 MeV

θ=80°

Energy of the scattered photons is

From the principle of conservation of energy

e denotes electron

0.511 Mev is the rest mass energy of the electron

Also, the energy of electron

pe is the momentum of the electron

Hence, velocity of the scattered electron is

Scattering angle φ of the electron is

E is the photon energy