In this article, we will familiarize ourselves with the Raman effect and the Compton effect, how they are useful to us, and we will also discuss how they differ from each other.
What is the Raman Effect?
While on a trip to Europe, C.V. Raman observed the striking blue colour of the icebergs and the Mediterranean sea. This inspired his inquisitive mind to understand the reason behind the phenomenon. He carried out an experiment using transparent blocks of ice by making light from a mercury arc lamp shine through them. He documented the spectra observed from shining the light through the ice and detected what would come to be known as the Raman Lines, caused by the Raman effect. The scattering of light by molecules of a medium is known as the Raman effect. The change in the wavelength of light as it enters from one medium to another is what causes the light to scatter. Raman received the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light.
Uses of Raman Effect
Raman spectroscopy is used in various fields where the application of microscopic, non-destructive, imaging is necessary. Whether the goal is quantitative or qualitative data, Raman analysis can provide key information swiftly and quickly.
What is the Compton Effect?
When a high-energy photon collides with a target atom or a molecule, loosely bound atoms or electrons are released from the outer shell of the target atom. We call this phenomenon the Compton effect. Compton scattering occurs when an incident x-ray photon is deflected from its original path due to its interaction with an electron. The electron is ejected from its orbital position and this causes the x-ray photon to lose energy but continues to travel through the medium along an altered path. Momentum and energy are conserved during the process.The discovery of the Compton effect is considered important because it demonstrates that light cannot be thought of as a wave purely. The Compton effect was first demonstrated by Arthur Holly Compton in 1923.
Uses of Compton Effect
Compton scattering is of prime importance in radiobiology. It is the most probable interaction of high energy X rays with atomic nuclei in living beings and is applied in radiation therapy.
Raman Effect vs Compton Effect
Now that we have understood what each of these terms means, let us compare them both and understand the difference between them.
| Raman Effect | Compton Effect |
| It is an incoherent scattering | It is an incoherent scattering |
| The frequency shift depends on the scatterer | The frequency shift is independent of the scatterer |
| Wavelengths both higher and lower than the incident wavelength are present | Only wavelengths that are higher than the incident wavelengths represent |
| The elastic and inelastic collision between photon and atom or molecule | The elastic and inelastic collision between atoms and freely or loosely held electrons. |
| Applicable for visible monochromatic light | Applicable for monochromatic x rays |
Hope this article helped you understand the Raman effect and the Compton effect and how they differ from each other.
