Dear All,
While we are talking about X-ray scattering, I have another question. If an
X-ray is elastically scattered from an electron at an angle theta, its energy
is the same is the incoming X-ray. However, the momentum is not the same, as it
now has a component in a perpendicular direction (see fig below). As I don't
believe that the conservation of momentum really is violated, what is the
source of the discrepancy?
Contrast this with most textbook descriptions of Compton scattering, where the
X-ray loses energy and the electron gains kinetic energy.
best wishes
James
X-ray --------> e-
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Dr. James Murray
Biochemistry Building
Department of Biological Sciences
Imperial College London
London, SW7 2AZ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 5276
