Compton scattering, the electron mass, and relativity: A laboratory experiment
Abstract
Compton scattering in a semiconductor detector is used to ``discover'' the relativistic relation between energy and momentum and to demonstrate the dependence of p, E and γ on β. The motivation is to measure the (rest) mass of the electron, and this can be done to within 1 keV with a commonly available set of gamma ray sources. To determine precisely where the Compton edge occurs in a spectrum, a Monte Carlo calculation of detector response is described which also helps the student to understand the physics of the detection process.
- Publication:
-
American Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- March 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1119/1.17611
- Bibcode:
- 1994AmJPh..62..266J
- Keywords:
-
- 32.80.Cy;
- 01.50.Pa;
- 03.30.+p;
- Atomic scattering cross sections and form factors;
- Compton scattering;
- Laboratory experiments and apparatus;
- Special relativity