Determination of rest mass energy of the electron by a Compton scattering experiment

Abstract

We report here a simple Compton scattering experiment which may be carried out in graduate and undergraduate laboratories to determine the rest mass energy of the electron. In the present experiment, we have measured the energies of the Compton scattered gamma rays with a NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer coupled to a 1 K multichannel analyzer at five scattering angles of θ = 30 • , 50 • , 60 • , 70 • and 80 • using a 137 Cs radioactive gamma source and a suitable aluminum absorber. The rest mass energy of the electron is determined as the reciprocal of the slope of the plot of parameter S versus (1 − cos θ ). The obtained value is found to agree with the standard value.

Can the Planck Length Be Found Independent of Big G?

“…The reduced Compton wavelength of an electron can also be found independently of big G, see (Prasannakumar, Krishnaveni, & Umesh, 2012). vmax had to be observed experimentally to find the Planck length.…”

Better Quantum Mechanics ? Thoughts on a New Definition of Momentum That Makes Physics Simpler and More Consistent

“…This means the mass of an elementary particle can be found by measuring the Compton wavelength of the particle, as has been done experimentally with electrons, see [12]. Still, the de Broglie wavelength is a mathematical function of the physical Compton wavelength, namely…”

“…In 1923, working at around the same time as de Broglie, Compton [11] discovered a wave related to electrons -the so-called Compton wavelength that is given by λc = h mc (12) And for a moving particle…”

Better Quantum Mechanics ? Thoughts on a New Definition of Momentum That Makes Physics Simpler and More Consistent

“…This means the mass of an elementary particle can be found by measuring the Compton wavelength of the particle, as has been done experimentally with electrons, see [22]. Still, the de Broglie wavelength is a mathematical function of the physical Compton wavelength, namely…”