What is the maximum recoil energy of photons in Inverse Compton Scattering?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of Inverse Compton scattering, specifically focusing on calculating the maximum recoil energy of photons when colliding with an electron beam. The original poster presents a scenario involving photons with an initial energy of 1 eV and electrons with an energy of 50 MeV.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to visualize the problem through diagrams and explores the kinematics involved in the scattering process. They express confusion regarding the angles necessary for maximizing the photon energy after scattering. Other participants inquire about the working steps and suggest using relevant equations derived from the relativistic framework.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to derive equations related to the energy of photons in different frames of reference. Some participants have provided equations and expressed their struggles with angle selection for maximizing photon energy. The original poster later indicates they have resolved their confusion, suggesting progress in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework problem, which may limit the information available for a complete analysis. The original poster's initial confusion about angles and the subsequent resolution may reflect the iterative nature of problem-solving in physics.

Matt atkinson
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Moved from a technical forum, so homework template missing
Hello all, I'm just doing some practice for an upcoming exam and came upon this question in my notes:

One experimental way to generate very high energy photons is to ”collide” a laser beam against an electron beam, the photons that recoil in the direction parallel to the electron beam will have large energy. This is called ”Inverse Compton scattering”. Calculate the maximum recoil energy of the photons, assuming the initial energy of the photons is 1 eV and the electrons in the beam have energy E = 50 MeV.

Now I'm really stuck at how I should approach the question just drawing diagram wise...
i've had a few attempts where I set the electron and photon to move against each other on the x direction and then afterwards the photon recoils back 180 degrees from its intial momentum. But i just can't get a reasonable answer...
 
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So what answers have you got? Please show your working. The Latex primer linked below the reply box may be of interest.
 
Sorry i'll do that now!
its more the issue of angles I'm struggling with for the maximum value.

I found a helpful page on the inverse compton scattering which led me to derive the following equations (electron rest frame is the primed variables):
The energy of the final photon in the rest frame of the electron.
##
E'_{\gamma_f}=\frac{E'_{\gamma_i}}{1+\frac{E^,_{\gamma_i}}{m_ec^2}(1-cos(\theta'))}\\
E^,_{\gamma_i}=E_{\gamma_i}\gamma(1-\beta cos(\theta')
##
I then used the relativistic dopper shift formula back to the lab frame:
##
E_{\gamma_f}=E'_{\gamma_f}\gamma(1+\beta cos(\phi))\\
##
where i understand that I've been given ##\gamma## from the electron energy, and from that i can work out ##\beta## but I am just struggling with what angles to use for maximum value of ##E_{\gamma_f}##.
 
Last edited:
I've actually just figured it out I am very sorry!
 

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