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Compton Photon Scattering Wavelength Shift

Calculate compton photon scattering wavelength shift with compatible units, known-value inputs and clearly stated model assumptions.

  • Formula & worked example
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Calculator inputs

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How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

Private by default

Inputs and results stay in this browser tab. Bookify does not upload or store the values you enter.

Formula and method

For the worked inputs, Wavelength extension is approximately 4.4204382 pm.

Δλ = h/(mc) × (1−cos θ)

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

Mass
1.09776912280988638050059229254805909171750805056670596489846344772861886166971324676551439 me
Scattering angle
180 deg
Wavelength extension
4.42 pm

Assumptions and limitations

  • The initially stationary scattering particle has strictly positive rest mass. The scattering angle is between zero and 180 degrees.
  • This is a wavelength shift, not the total final wavelength. Add it to a known incident wavelength.
  • The inverse angle uses the principal arccosine branch.
  • Numerical arithmetic uses 64 significant digits; displayed values are rounded separately. Captured particle-mass and astronomical unit conversions retain their stated approximations.

Common questions

Which inputs and assumptions does this result use?

The initially stationary scattering particle has strictly positive rest mass. The scattering angle is between zero and 180 degrees.

Why can a rounded wavelength shift change the inverse angle near 180 degrees?

The inverse arccosine is sensitive near zero and 180 degrees. Small shift-rounding errors can produce larger angle differences. For a fixed positive mass, the physical shift is between zero and 2h/(mc).

References

Bookify retains the captured physical relationship and inverse controls, while replacing older or rounded constants with the 2022 CODATA values and full-precision π where applicable. Measured constants retain their physical uncertainty. Bookify requires physically valid mass or nonnegative field/speed magnitudes and principal scattering angles for this stated model.

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