# What is the difference between Compton and Rayleigh scattering?

by mycotheology
Tags: compton, difference, rayleigh, scattering
 PF Gold P: 1,145 Hello mycotheology, welcome at PF. Rayleigh scattering of radiation is a scattering of light off particles (atoms, molecules) much smaller than the wavelength of the light. For example, scattering of visible light in the atmosphere. The scattered radiation has the same frequency as the incoming radiation. Rayleigh's theory describes light as electromagnetic wave and no photons are used in the description. Compton in 20's studied the process when the X-rays are scattered of the electrons in matter. He found that the scattered radiation has different frequency (lower) than the frequency of the incoming radiation. He explained this as an inelastic collision between the electrons and light quanta; light quanta lose some energy in the collision with electrons and go on with lower energy. By the Planck-Einstein relation between the energy of the light quantum and the angular frequency of the corresponding wave $$E = \hbar \omega$$ the corresponding scattered wave has lower frequency.