Compton effect

The Compton effect describes how X-rays or gamma rays interact with matter, particularly electrons. When a photon (a particle of light) collides with a loosely bound electron, it transfers some of its energy to the electron, causing the photon to scatter at a different angle with reduced energy. This phenomenon, first observed by Arthur Compton in 1923, demonstrated that light can behave like a particle, supporting the idea of wave-particle duality in physics. It has implications in fields like astrophysics and medical imaging, enhancing our understanding of radiation and matter interactions.