Understanding Conservation of Momentum and Energy in Ideal Quantum Experiments

  • Thread starter Thread starter ehrenfest
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Experiment Quantum
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the conservation of momentum and energy in the context of an ideal quantum experiment, specifically focusing on Compton scattering. The original poster references equations from a textbook that describe the relationships between the momentum and energy of a photon and a particle during a collision.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster seeks an explanation of how the provided equations reflect conservation principles. Other participants question the specific terms used in the equations, particularly the differences in the signs associated with the frequencies for momentum and energy.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of the equations and questioning the reasoning behind the different formulations for momentum and energy. There is no explicit consensus yet, but the inquiries suggest a productive examination of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific equations from a textbook and are attempting to reconcile their understanding of these equations with the principles of conservation in quantum mechanics. There may be assumptions about the nature of the photon and the particle involved that are not fully articulated.

ehrenfest
Messages
2,001
Reaction score
1
In the discussion of the ideal quantum experiment and Compton scattering, my book (Shankar page 23) gives these equations for the conservation of momentum and energy:

[tex]cp' = cp +h-bar(\omega+\omega')[/tex]
[tex]E' = E +h-bar(\omega-\omega')[/tex]


This experiment involved a photon of known energy and momentum colliding with a particle of unknown energy and momentum.

c is the speed of light, h-bar is h/(2*pi) omega is the frequency of the photon, E is energy, and p is momentum

Can someone please explain how those equations represent the conservation of momentum and energy?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Put glasses on your nose if you need: this is what is written.

Regards, Dany.
 
Why is it [tex]\omega - \omega'[/tex] for energy and [tex]\omega + \omega'[/tex] for momentum?
 
I see the photon is moving at first and right-moving after the collision and p and p' are only the modulus of the momentum.
 

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K