The Compton Effect

In the early years of the twentieth century, the interaction between radiation and matter was primarily explored using visible light and ultraviolet rays. Starting from the 1920s, thanks also to the fundamental work conducted by A. H. Compton, investigations delved into interactions at higher energies, specifically those between X-rays and electrons. In this chapter, we will deal with Compton’s experimental work, and we will discuss the connection between high- and low-energy radiation-matter interaction, highlighting the significance of the photon’s momentum and of the energy and momentum conservation laws.