Klein Nishina Formula: History, Importance & Proving

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the Klein-Nishina formula, its historical significance, and the challenges associated with its derivation. Participants explore its importance in quantum electrodynamics and gamma ray transport, while seeking resources for a comprehensive mathematical derivation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the importance of the Klein-Nishina formula and its role in calculating gamma ray transport.
  • One participant notes that the formula was derived in 1928 and highlights its significance in quantum electrodynamics.
  • Several participants express a desire for more detailed resources on the derivation, indicating difficulty in finding comprehensive mathematical treatments online.
  • One participant suggests a specific online resource that provides a thorough treatment of the formula.
  • Another participant mentions that the Greiner book on quantum electrodynamics contains the full derivation, along with Feynman's work on the subject.
  • A participant recalls that their graduate course in QED used Bjorken & Drell's textbook, where derivation details were often left as exercises for students.
  • One participant asks about the necessary prerequisites in physics and mathematics to understand or prove the formula.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a shared interest in the derivation and significance of the Klein-Nishina formula, but there is no consensus on the availability of resources or the prerequisites needed for understanding the derivation.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various textbooks and resources, but the discussion reflects a lack of easily accessible comprehensive derivations, indicating potential limitations in available educational materials.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in quantum electrodynamics, the history of physics, or those seeking resources for advanced study in theoretical physics may find this discussion relevant.

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What is its importance? Where there any publications to prove exactly the formulation of Klein Nishina formula of Compton Effect? Why is it that complicated to prove..
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The Klein–Nishina formula was derived in 1928 by Oskar Klein and Yoshio Nishina, and was one of the first results obtained from the study of quantum electrodynamics. Consideration of relativistic and quantum mechanical effects allowed development of an accurate equation for the scattering of radiation from a target electron.

Above from Wikipedia.

It is important in order to calculate gamma ray transport correctly.
 
Thank you, but I would have liked to know more about its derivation. I found no online resources that show all the mathematical elaboration. Is there any book perhaps that has the full derivation. If not, then why such derivations can not be sought easily?
 
Did you look at http://web.phys.ntnu.no/~mika/qft1h.pdf? Sect 5.3.1 gives a rather thorough treatment.
 
Is there any book perhaps that has the full derivation.
greiner book on quantum electrodynamics contain full derivation.Also it is treated in feynman's quantum electrodynamics.
 
I remember seeing/doing the derivation in my grad school QED course which used Bjorken & Drell's texbook, probably "Relativistic Quantum Fields".

At that level, some or most of the details are often left to the student as exercises. :wink:
 
Thank you a lot for your suggestions and shared experiences!
 
One more thing. What prerequisites should we have in order to prove this (Physics and Mathematics)?
 

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