Understanding the Compton Effect: Exploring the Particle Nature of Light

[Sudarsan]

I have a problem on Compton effect..
Its told that, when a incident photon of frequency 'v' strikes an atom, there is a ejection of an electron and there is photon ejeted out with lesser frequency...

But, the above mentioned seems to violate particle nature of the light and photo electric equations, as its said that if the incident photon hits the electron, if it has energy more than work function the electron get ejected and remaining energy is used as kinetic energy for the electron. If the energy is not equal to the work function then the electron get excited and return back to its ground state by emmiting a photon with same frequency as that of the incident photon.

Whereas in compton shift both condition occurs at same time with incident of one photon...
Is it possible??
does it have any other explanations??

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[phyzguy]

The Compton effect describes the interaction of a photon and a free electron, not an electron in an atom. Because it is necessary to conserve both energy and momentum, it is not possible for all of the incoming photon energy to be absorbed.

 

[PeterDonis]

I have a problem on Compton effect..

As @phyzguy has pointed out, what you are describing is not the Compton effect, since that involves free electrons. It looks like what you are describing is actually the photoelectric effect. In the photoelectric effect, the rest of the atom recoils, so energy and momentum can both be conserved even though the incoming photon is fully absorbed.

 

[jtbell]

In the photoelectric effect, the rest of the atom recoils, so energy and momentum can both be conserved even though the incoming photon is fully absorbed.

In the photoelectric effect, not just a single atom is involved, but rather a large bound collection of atoms (piece of metal) from which the electron is ejected.

 

[PeterDonis]

In the photoelectric effect, not just a single atom is involved, but rather a large bound collection of atoms (piece of metal) from which the electron is ejected.

Yes, good point, the recoil is not just one atom, it's the whole piece of metal. (And the electron that gets ejected was not bound to just one atom, but to the whole piece of metal.)

 

[vanhees71]

Of course, you can have the photoeffect also on a single atom, but indeed the usual (and historical) setup is to use a metal plate.

 

[Marat]

First, I draw your attention that light interference also violates particle nature of light. Excuse me, interaction of light with electrons is usually described by equations of quantum electrodynamics but not by words.

 

[Moayd Shagaf]

You probably talking about photoelectric effect, not Compton effect, and hence you must specify a metal.