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In spectrophotometry, the Compton Edge is a feature of the spectrograph that results from the Compton scattering in the scintillator or detector. When a gamma-ray scatters off the scintillator but escapes, only a fraction of the its energy is registered by the detector. This leads to a spectrum of gamma-rays in the data that is not really there. The highest energy that occurs from this process is the Compton edge. A Spectrophotometer In physics, spectrophotometry is the quantitative study of electromagnetic spectra. ...
In physics, Compton scattering or the Compton effect, is the decrease in energy (increase in wavelength) of an X-ray or gamma ray photon, when it interacts with matter. ...
A scintillator is a device or substance that absorbs high energy (ionizing) electromagnetic or charged particle radiation then, in response, fluoresces photons at a characteristic Stokes-shifted (longer) wavelength, releasing the previously absorbed energy. ...
The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is an example of a large particle detector. ...
Gamma rays or gamma-ray photons (denoted as γ) are forms of electromagnetic radiation or light emissions of a specific frequency produced from sub-atomic particle interaction, such as electron-positron annihilation and radioactive decay; most are generated from nuclear reactions occurring within the interstellar medium of space. ...
Background
In a Compton scattering process, an incident photon collides with an electron in the scintillator. The amount of energy exchanged varies with angle, and is given by the formula: In physics, Compton scattering or the Compton effect, is the decrease in energy (increase in wavelength) of an X-ray or gamma ray photon, when it interacts with matter. ...
or
- E is the energy of the incident photon.
- E' is the energy of the outgoing photon, which escapes the detector.
- me is the mass of the electron.
- c is the speed of light.
- θ is the angle of defection for the photon.
The amount of energy transferred to the scintillator varies with the angle of deflection. As θ approaches zero, none of the energy is transferred. The maximum amount of energy is trasferred when θ approaches 180 degrees.
It is impossible for the photon to transfer any more energy this process, hence there is a sharp cutoff at this energy giving rise to the name Compton edge.
Spectrograph Feature Please upload a picture of the Compton edge with Compton plateau
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