How Electrons Knock Other Electrons & Create Vacancies

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In summary, electron-electron scattering is when two electrons that have the same momentum but are not in the same part of the atom scatter off of each other. This happens because the velocity of the two electrons is different, and the striking electron gains velocity.
  • #1
Himal kharel
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i studied that xrays can be produced when a vacancy created ,by knocking of electrons by other high velocity electrons, is filled by other electrons of outer shell. but can electron knock a electron? in same mass collision as in above just velocity is exchanged. so the orbiting electron will gain velocity of striking electron and escape. but as the velocity is just exchanged the striking electron will receive orbital velocity and start orbiting the atom. so no vacancy is created. so how is this "vacancy thing" possible?
 
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  • #2
Himal kharel said:
so the orbiting electron will gain velocity of striking electron and escape. but as the velocity is just exchanged the striking electron will receive orbital velocity and start orbiting the atom.

That's a bit like saying that if I have a ball sitting on a post, and knock it off by throwing another ball on it,
the second ball will always end up sitting on the post rather than them both flying off.

The former can happen of course, but becomes increasingly unlikely as the ball you're throwing gets faster.
That's essentially what's happening here (if we stay with the classical-analogy description).
 
  • #3
Hi.

Electron knocking at another electron is dealt in Compton effect. I recommend to learn it.

Regards.
 
  • #4
sweet springs said:
Hi.

Electron knocking at another electron is dealt in Compton effect. I recommend to learn it.

Regards.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

The Compton is strictly associated with a photon interacting with a "free" (i.e., loosely bound relative to the energy of the incident photon) electron and inelastic scattering off that electron.

http://physics.about.com/od/quantumphysics/a/comptoneffect.htm"
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/comptint.html"
 
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  • #5
That's a bit like saying that if I have a ball sitting on a post, and knock it off by throwing another ball on it,
the second ball will always end up sitting on the post rather than them both flying off.

alxm said:
The former can happen of course, but becomes increasingly unlikely as the ball you're throwing gets faster.
That's essentially what's happening here (if we stay with the classical-analogy description).

Even when the velocity becomes too high for two equal mass collision there is velocity exchage. this is as per law of conservation of linear momentum.
 
  • #6
Himal kharel said:
Even when the velocity becomes too high for two equal mass collision there is velocity exchage. this is as per law of conservation of linear momentum.

Ok, let p1 and p2 be the momentum of the two particles before the collision, and p'1 and p'2 be the momenta after the collision. Conservation of momentum means: p1 + p2 = p'1 + p'2

How do you get from that to p'2 = p1? Total momentum is conserved, not of the individual momenta of the particles.
 
  • #7
Hi.

daveb said:
ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I was wrong. Electron-electron scattering is called Moller scattering.

from Wiki
Møller scattering is the name given to electron-electron scattering in Quantum Field Theory.

Regards.
 

FAQ: How Electrons Knock Other Electrons & Create Vacancies

1. How do electrons knock other electrons and create vacancies?

Electrons knock other electrons and create vacancies through a process called collisional ionization, where high-energy electrons collide with atoms and remove their electrons, leaving behind a vacancy or positively charged ion. This can also happen through photoionization, where photons of light knock off electrons from atoms.

2. What causes electrons to have enough energy to knock off other electrons?

Electrons can gain enough energy to knock off other electrons through various sources such as high voltage, high temperature, or high-energy collisions with other particles. In some cases, external sources like lasers can also provide the necessary energy for electron collision.

3. How do vacancies affect the behavior of electrons?

Vacancies can affect the behavior of electrons by creating changes in the electronic structure of the material. These changes can affect the properties of the material, such as conductivity and magnetism. Vacancies can also serve as trapping sites for other particles, influencing their movement and interactions with other particles.

4. Can electrons create vacancies in all materials?

Yes, electrons can create vacancies in all materials as long as there is enough energy for electron collision or photoionization to occur. The number of vacancies created and their effects on the material will depend on the material's properties and the energy of the electrons.

5. What are some practical applications of electron collision and vacancy creation?

Electron collision and vacancy creation have various practical applications, such as in semiconductor devices, where vacancies are intentionally created to control the properties of the material. This process is also used in plasma processing, where high-energy electrons are used to etch and modify surfaces. Additionally, electron collision and vacancy creation play a crucial role in nuclear reactions and particle accelerators.

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