Astrophysics (Index)About

Compton wavelength

(lower bound on a particle's possible de Broglie wavelength)

A particle's Compton wavelength is a value used in calculation of Compton scattering and some other quantum-mechanical phenomena. It is also used as a general threshold regarding the size of interactions: that if the interaction involves distances less than the Compton wavelength, then quantum mechanical considerations are necessary in its analysis.

    h
λ = ——
    mc

Being inversely proportional to a particle's mass, it is an equivalent measure. It is a lower bound on a particle's possible de Broglie wavelength, which additionally depends upon the particle's velocity. The above formula is the same as that of the de Broglie wavelength except using the speed of light, c rather than the particle's velocity, v.

The term reduced Compton wavelength is used for the Compton wavelength divided by 2π, i.e., ℏ/mc, ℏ being the reduced Planck constant. Sometimes mention of a Compton wavelength is referring to this reduced Compton wavelength.

Of particular interest is the Compton wavelength of the electron, of relevance to electron scattering.


(physics,quantum theory,mass,measure)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compton_wavelength
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/compton.html
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095629822
https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book%3A_University_Physics_(OpenStax)/University_Physics_III_-_Optics_and_Modern_Physics_(OpenStax)/06%3A_Photons_and_Matter_Waves/6.04%3A_The_Compton_Effect
https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Value?ecomwl

Referenced by page:
fuzzy dark matter (FDM)

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