Why compton effect is not observed with visible light?
Answers
In order to achieve the compton effect, the incident photons energy is on the order of an x-ray wavelength.There is not enough energy lost to the electron to drop the scattered photons wavelength down to the visible spectrum. Visible lights have enough energy to knock out electrons but, energy is converted into kinetic energy of electrons emitted and initial photons are lost. If the photons are gone then they cannot scatter. Compton effect happens with visible lights but, it is so less that it is unnoticeable. Any new photons are used by using kinetic energy of electrons. It only becomes observable when photons energies are in range of 100eV that happens in case of X-rays. Hence, compton effect is not observed with visible lights.
The Compton effect is an interesting phenomenon in Physics. The reasons for not observing the Compton effect in visual light are described below -
- In 1922, Arthur Compton first observed an effect on a body when it is hit by high-energy photons and releases loose electrons from its outer parts.
- To observe this effect X-rays or gamma rays need to be scattered on a body and the wavelength of the X-rays or the gamma rays need to be increased. Then we will observe that the intensity of the radiation of loose electrons and the wavelength of the 'X-rays' or 'gamma rays' are not dependent on each other.
- But the 'Compton effect' cannot be visible with visible light because the most shift of wavelength is 0.005 nm when free electrons are scattered off by visible light. But in the case of visible light, this small shift is very difficult to confirm.
- Another reason is the scattering of free electrons from the target body happens only when the applied rays have enough energy to strike the free electrons off an atom. We know that visible light does not have enough energy like X-rays or gamma rays. This is why the 'Compton effect' cannot be observed with visible lights.
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