The Compton Effect refers to the phenomenon where X-rays or gamma rays are scattered by electrons, resulting in a change in the wavelength of the radiation. This effect was first observed by Arthur H. Compton in 1923, providing evidence for the particle-like properties of photons. When a photon collides with a loosely bound or free electron, it transfers some of its energy to the electron, causing the photon to lose energy and thus increase its wavelength. This relationship is mathematically expressed by the equation:
where is the change in wavelength, is Planck's constant, is the mass of the electron, is the speed of light, and is the scattering angle. The Compton Effect supports the concept of wave-particle duality, illustrating how particles such as photons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior.
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