Klein–Nishina formula

E83430

The Klein–Nishina formula is a fundamental result in quantum electrodynamics that gives the differential cross section for Compton scattering of photons by free electrons, incorporating relativistic and quantum effects.

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Generate an image of the Klein–Nishina formula (The Klein–Nishina formula is a fundamental result in quantum electrodynamics that gives the differential cross section for Compton scattering of photons by free electrons, incorporating relativistic and quantum effects.)

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf equation in physics ⓘ
physical law ⓘ
result in quantum electrodynamics ⓘ
appliesTo scattering of photons by free electrons ⓘ
assumes initially free electron at rest ⓘ
single‑photon scattering ⓘ
basedOn Dirac theory of the electron ⓘ
linked to: Dirac equation

quantum electrodynamics ⓘ
category equations of quantum electrodynamics ⓘ
scattering cross sections ⓘ
characterizes polarization dependence of Compton scattering ⓘ
dependsOn classical electron radius ⓘ
fine‑structure constant ⓘ
incident photon energy ⓘ
scattering angle ⓘ
describes differential cross section for Compton scattering ⓘ
domain relativistic quantum mechanics ⓘ
expressedIn natural units in high‑energy physics ⓘ
field high‑energy physics ⓘ
particle physics ⓘ
quantum electrodynamics ⓘ
scattering theory ⓘ
generalizes Thomson scattering formula ⓘ
gives angular distribution of scattered photons in Compton scattering ⓘ
energy dependence of Compton scattering cross section ⓘ
importantFor calibration of gamma‑ray detectors ⓘ
understanding interaction of gamma rays with matter ⓘ
incorporates quantum effects ⓘ
relativistic effects ⓘ
isSolutionOf tree‑level QED scattering amplitude for photon–electron scattering ⓘ
namedAfter Oskar Klein ⓘ
Yoshio Nishina ⓘ
predicts anisotropic scattering at high photon energies ⓘ
decrease of Compton cross section with increasing photon energy ⓘ
reducesTo Thomson cross section in the low‑energy limit ⓘ
relatedTo Compton scattering formula for photon energy shift ⓘ
linked to: Compton effect

Compton wavelength of the electron ⓘ
relates incident photon energy to scattered photon energy and angle ⓘ
usedIn Monte Carlo simulations of radiation transport ⓘ
detector design for high‑energy photons ⓘ
gamma‑ray astronomy ⓘ
medical physics ⓘ
radiation physics ⓘ
validFor photon energies comparable to or larger than electron rest mass energy ⓘ
yearProposed 1929 ⓘ

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Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Yoshio Nishina → notableWork → Klein–Nishina formula ⓘ
Yoshio Nishina → knownFor → Klein–Nishina formula for Compton scattering ⓘ
linked to: Klein–Nishina formula
Compton effect → relatedTo → Klein–Nishina formula ⓘ
Oskar Klein → notableWork → Klein–Nishina formula ⓘ
Thomson cross section → isLowEnergyLimitOf → Klein–Nishina formula ⓘ
Compton wavelength → relatedTo → Klein–Nishina formula ⓘ
Thomson scattering → isApproximationOf → Klein–Nishina scattering formula at low energies ⓘ
linked to: Klein–Nishina formula