Suppose some arbitrary atom requires 10 MeV to excite an electron from ground to its first excited state and 15 MeV to excite an electron from ground to its second excited state. A photon of 12 MeV is then incident on an electron in the ground state of said atom. Since there is no energy level 12 MeV above the ground state, nothing occurs. The photon passes through even though it had enough energy to bring the electron to the first excited state.
Okay, great. So photons can't deliver portions of their energy. It's all or nothing. The photon in this case can't deliver 10 MeV to excite the electron and then scatter off with the remaining 2 MeV.
>> Enter Compton scattering.
>> Photon can collide with a free electron passing on some, but not all, of it's energy like a collision.
>> Theoretically, a 12 MeV photon could hit an electron (at rest say) at a specific angle such that it gives the electron 10 MeV while being left with remaining 2 MeV.
Why does this happen? Why is it okay in one case but not the other?? inb4 something about God being to based to follow the shitty laws of physics.
Okay, great. So photons can't deliver portions of their energy. It's all or nothing. The photon in this case can't deliver 10 MeV to excite the electron and then scatter off with the remaining 2 MeV.
>> Enter Compton scattering.
>> Photon can collide with a free electron passing on some, but not all, of it's energy like a collision.
>> Theoretically, a 12 MeV photon could hit an electron (at rest say) at a specific angle such that it gives the electron 10 MeV while being left with remaining 2 MeV.
Why does this happen? Why is it okay in one case but not the other?? inb4 something about God being to based to follow the shitty laws of physics.
