Compton Scattering


Compton Scattering is a process by which a gamma ray interacts with matter. Compton Scattering occurs when a gamma ray (photon) bounces off of an electron when gamma rays are shot through a material. Since gamma rays have no charge, there is no electromagnetic forces acting on the particles. The angle that the gamma is deflected is called θ (theta). The angle at which the electron is deflected is called φ (phi). The electron may only be knocked into a higher energy level. If the electron is knocked from its atom, then both it and the gamma may continue on to deposit more energy elsewhere in the material or may escape the material altogether.

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