A gamma-ray photon of energy scatters off a free electron at rest ( ).

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Astrophysics & Cosmology · Radiation, radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres · Radiation, radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres

Stars from the Inside, Ch Hot and fast electrons: bremsstrahlung, Compton scattering and synchrotron emission

Problem

A gamma-ray photon of energy

h\nu = 200\,\mathrm{keV}

scatters off a free electron at rest (

m_ec^2 = 511\,\mathrm{keV}

). ((a)) Form the dimensionless ratio

h\nu/m_ec^2

. ((b)) Decide whether the Thomson (non-relativistic, energy-conserving) treatment of the scattering used for the Eddington limit is adequate for this photon, or whether Klein-Nishina corrections must be included.

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