Compton vs. Raman vs. Thomson Scattering

[lzkelley]

I'm reviewing my scattering processes and can't quite pin down the difference between raman and compton...
It sounds like Compton scattering is exactly the same as Raman scattering (with inverse-compton = raman stokes scattering; and normal compton = raman anti-stokes scattering).

Also, just wanted to confirm, Thomson scattering is elastic while compton/raman is inelastic?

Thanks!

 

[turin]

Both Thomson and Raman are quasi-nonrelativistic cases of Compton.

You can think of Thomson as a particular photon energy range: Ry << E_γ << m_ec². E_γ >> Ry allows you to neglect the electron binding energy to the atom. E_γ << m_ec² allows you to neglect relativistic (pair creation) effects.

You can think of Raman as more of a phenomenological case in which I believe that E_γ < ~Ry. But I'm not so familiar with Raman (other than the fact that it is a grad students diet).

 

[Bob S]

Hi lzkelley
Raman scattering is the inelastic scattering of a photon on a bound electron, with the electron being excited to a higher bound state. Thomson and Compton scattering both are based on inelastic scattering of photons on free (unbound) electrons.
Bob S

 

[lzkelley]

Turin and Bob S; thank you both--you're responses have been very helpful!