What this calculator does
Compton scattering works out wavelength shift of a photon scattered off a free electron at a given angle. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaΔλ = (h/mₑc)(1−cosθ), h = 6.62607015×10⁻³⁴ J·s, mₑ = 9.1093837015×10⁻³¹ kg
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Incident wavelength (pm) | A number, measured in pm. Starts at 71. |
| Scattering angle (°) | A number, measured in °. Starts at 90. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with incident wavelength
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while incident wavelength varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.
How the answer changes with incident wavelength