The Compton effect as one path to QED. (English) Zbl 1222.81006
Summary: Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is the theory of electrons and other elementary charged particles, interacting through the exchange of light quanta. Albert Einstein introduced the light quantum (now called photon) in 1905, but for about three decades physicists applied quantum ideas mainly in theories of the structure and behavior of matter, not to electromagnetic radiation itself, which was always treated semi-classically. This began to change after 1923 with the discovery of the Compton effect and its kinematic description by Arthur Compton and Peter Debye, based on the light quantum. In this paper we review the study of high-energy radiation that led to Compton’s discovery. We discuss the analysis of the intensity distribution of Compton-scattered radiation that together with the “new” quantum theory beginning in 1925, resulted in the development, especially by Pascual Jordan and Paul Dirac, of a quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation in interaction with matter.
MSC:
| 81-03 | History of quantum theory |
| 01A60 | History of mathematics in the 20th century |
| 81V10 | Electromagnetic interaction; quantum electrodynamics |
References:
| [1] | Beck, G., Comptoneffekt und quantenmechanik, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 38, 144-148 (1926) · JFM 52.0951.01 |
| [2] | Bjorken, J. D.; Drell, S. D., Relativistic quantum mechanics (1964), McGraw-Hill: McGraw-Hill New York · Zbl 0184.54201 |
| [3] | Bohr, N.; Kramers, H. A.; Slater, J. C., The quantum theory of radiation, Philosophical Magazine, 47, 785-822 (1924) |
| [4] | Born, M., Das adiabatenprinzip in der quantenmechanik, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 40, 167-192 (1926) · JFM 52.0974.01 |
| [5] | Born, M.; Heisenberg, W.; Jordan, P., Zur quantenmechanik II, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 35, 557-615 (1926) · JFM 52.0963.01 |
| [6] | Born, M.; Jordan, P., Zur quantenmechanik, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 34, 858-888 (1925) · JFM 51.0728.08 |
| [7] | Bothe, W.; Geiger, H., Über das wesen des Comptoneffektes; ein experimenteller beitrag zur theorie der Strahlung, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 32, 639 (1925) |
| [8] | Bragg, W. H.; Bragg, W. L., The reflection of X-rays by crystals, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A88, 428-438 (1913) |
| [9] | Breit, G., A correspondence principle in the Compton effect, Physical Review, 27, 362-372 (1926) · JFM 52.0951.05 |
| [10] | Brown, L. M.; Moyer, D. F., Lady or tiger?—The Meitner-Hupfeld effect and Heisenberg’s neutron theory, American Journal of Physics, 52, 130-136 (1984) |
| [11] | Brown, L. M.; Rechenberg, H., The origin of the concept of nuclear forces (1996), IOP Publishing: IOP Publishing Bristol |
| [12] | Campbell, N., Modern electrical theory (1907), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press Cambridge · JFM 39.0950.05 |
| [13] | Campbell, N., Modern electrical theory (1913), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press Cambridge · JFM 44.0988.03 |
| [14] | Compton, A. H., Size and shape of the electron, Physical Review, 14, 23-59 (1919) |
| [15] | Compton, A. H., Secondary radiations produced by X-rays, and some of their applications to physical problems, Bulletin of the National Research Council, 4, 20 (1922) |
| [16] | Compton, A. H., A quantum theory of the scattering of X-rays by light elements, Physical Review, 21, 483-502 (1923) |
| [17] | Compton, A. H., The spectrum of scattered X-rays, Physical Review, 22, 409-413 (1923) |
| [18] | Compton, A. H., The scattering of X-rays as particles, American Journal of Physics, 29, 817-820 (1961) |
| [19] | Compton, A. H.; Allison, S. K., X-rays in theory and experiment (1935), Van Noestrand: Van Noestrand New York |
| [20] | Compton, A. H.; Simon, A. W., Directed quanta of scattered X-rays, Physical Review, 25, 306-313 (1925) |
| [21] | Darrigol, O., From \(c\)-numbers to \(q\)-numbers (1992), Berkeley University Press: Berkeley University Press Berkeley |
| [22] | Debye, P., Zerstreuung von Röntgenstrahlen und quantentheorie, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 24, 161-166 (1923) |
| [23] | De Maria, M.; Russo, A., The discovery of the positron, Rivista di Storia della Scienza, 2, 2, 237-286 (1985) |
| [24] | Dirac, P. A.M., Relativity quantum mechanics with an application to Compton scattering, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A111, 405-423 (1926) · JFM 52.0974.05 |
| [25] | Dirac, P. A.M., On the theory of quantum mechanics, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A112, 661-677 (1926) · JFM 52.0975.01 |
| [26] | Dirac, P. A.M., The Compton effect in wave mechanics, Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 23, 500-507 (1927) · JFM 53.0847.03 |
| [27] | Dirac, P. A.M., The quantum theory of the emission and absorption of radiation, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A114, 243-265 (1927) · JFM 53.0847.01 |
| [28] | Dirac, P. A.M., The quantum theory of dispersion, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A114, 710-728 (1927) · JFM 53.0847.02 |
| [29] | Dirac, P. A.M., The quantum theory of the electron, I, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A117, 610-624 (1928) · JFM 54.0973.01 |
| [30] | Dirac, P. A.M., The quantum theory of the electron, II, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A118, 351-361 (1928) · JFM 54.0973.02 |
| [31] | Dirac, P. A. M. (1977). Recollections of an exciting era. In Weiner, C. (Ed.) (1977)History of twentieth century physics; Dirac, P. A. M. (1977). Recollections of an exciting era. In Weiner, C. (Ed.) (1977)History of twentieth century physics |
| [32] | Dresden, M. (1987). H. A. Kramers, Between tradition and revolution. New York: Springer.; Dresden, M. (1987). H. A. Kramers, Between tradition and revolution. New York: Springer. |
| [33] | Einstein, A., Zum gegenwärtigen stand des strahlungsproblem, Physikalische Zeitschrift, 10, 185-193 (1909) · JFM 40.0985.01 |
| [34] | Einstein, A., Quantentheorie der strahlung, Physikalische Gesellschaft (Zürich), Mitteilungen, 16, 47-62 (1916) |
| [35] | Einstein, A., Zur quantentheorie der strahlung, Physikalische Zeitschrift, 18, 121-128 (1917) |
| [36] | Ekspong, G. (Ed.), (1991). The Oskar Klein memorial lectures; Ekspong, G. (Ed.), (1991). The Oskar Klein memorial lectures · Zbl 0867.01029 |
| [37] | Ekspong, G. (Ed.), (1994a). The Oskar Klein memorial lectures; Ekspong, G. (Ed.), (1994a). The Oskar Klein memorial lectures · Zbl 0867.01029 |
| [38] | Ekspong, G. (1994b). The Klein-Nishina formula. In Ekspong, G. (Ed.), The Oskar Klein memorial lectures,; Ekspong, G. (1994b). The Klein-Nishina formula. In Ekspong, G. (Ed.), The Oskar Klein memorial lectures, |
| [39] | Fermi, E., Quantum theory of radiation, Reviews of Modern Physics, 4, 87-132 (1932) · JFM 58.1351.04 |
| [40] | Florance, D. C.H., Primary and secondary γ-rays, Philosophical Magazine, 20, 921-938 (1910) |
| [41] | Friedrich, W., Knipping, P., & von Laue, M. (1912). Interferenzerscheinungen bei Röntgenstrahlen. Sitzsungsberichte der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften; Friedrich, W., Knipping, P., & von Laue, M. (1912). Interferenzerscheinungen bei Röntgenstrahlen. Sitzsungsberichte der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften |
| [42] | Furry, W. H.; Oppenheimer, J. R., On the theory of the electron and positron, Physical Review, 45, 245-262 (1934) · JFM 60.0791.03 |
| [43] | Gordon, W., Der Comptoneffekt nach der Schrödingerschen theorie, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 40, 117-133 (1926) · JFM 52.0979.06 |
| [44] | Gray, J. A., The scattering and absorption of the rays of radium, Philosophical Magazine, 26, 611-612 (1913) |
| [45] | Gray, L. H., The absorption of penetrating radiation, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London), A172, 647-668 (1929) · JFM 55.1192.03 |
| [46] | Halpern, O., Zur theorie der Röntgenstrahlstreuung, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 30, 153-172 (1924) · JFM 51.0753.06 |
| [47] | Hanson, N. R., The concept of the positron (1963), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press Cambridge · Zbl 0129.21501 |
| [48] | Heisenberg, W., Über quantentheoretische Umdeutung kinematischer und mechanischer Beziehungen, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 33, 879-893 (1925) · JFM 51.0728.07 |
| [49] | Heisenberg, W., Die Entwicklung der Quantentheorie 1918-1928, Naturwissenschaften, 17, 491-496 (1929) · JFM 55.0006.05 |
| [50] | Heisenberg, W.; Pauli, W., Zur Quantendynamik der Wellenfelder, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 56, 1-61 (1929) · JFM 55.0519.07 |
| [51] | Heisenberg, W.; Pauli, W., Zur Quantendynamik der Wellenfelder, II, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 59, 168-190 (1929) · JFM 55.0519.07 |
| [52] | Heitler, W., The quantum theory of radiation (1936), Oxford University Press: Oxford University Press Oxford · JFM 62.1612.01 |
| [53] | Holstein, B. R., Klein’s paradox, American Journal of Physics, 66, 507-512 (1998) |
| [54] | Jackson, J. D., Classical electrodynamics (1962), Wiley: Wiley New York · Zbl 0114.42903 |
| [55] | Jordan, P.; Klein, O., Zum Mehrkörperproblem der Quantentheorie, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 47, 651-763 (1927) · JFM 53.0857.02 |
| [56] | Jordan, P.; Pauli, W., Zur Quantenelektrodynamik ladungsfreier Felder, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 47, 151-173 (1928) · JFM 54.0971.02 |
| [57] | Jordan, P.; Wigner, E., Über das Paulische Äquivalenzverbot, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 47, 631-651 (1928) · JFM 54.0983.03 |
| [58] | Klein, O., Quantentheorie und fünfdimensionale Relativitätstheorie, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 37, 895-906 (1926) · JFM 52.0970.09 |
| [59] | Klein, O., Elektrodynamik und Wellenmechanik vom Standpunkt des Korrespondenzprinzips, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 41, 407-442 (1927) · JFM 53.0871.01 |
| [60] | Klein, O., The Reflexion von Elektronen an einem Potentialsprung nach der relativistischen Dynamik von Dirac, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 53, 157-165 (1929) · JFM 55.0527.04 |
| [61] | Klein, O.; Nishina, Y., The scattering of light by free electrons according to Dirac’s new relativistic dynamics, Nature, 122, 398-399 (1928) · JFM 54.1006.09 |
| [62] | Klein, O. & Nishina, Y. (1929). Über die Streuung durch freie Elektronen nach der neuen relativistischen Quantendynamik von Dirac. Zeitschrift fuer Physik52; Klein, O. & Nishina, Y. (1929). Über die Streuung durch freie Elektronen nach der neuen relativistischen Quantendynamik von Dirac. Zeitschrift fuer Physik52 · JFM 55.0532.04 |
| [63] | Kragh, H., The genesis of Dirac’s relativistic theory of electrons, Archive for History of Exact Sciences, 24, 31-67 (1981) · Zbl 0458.01010 |
| [64] | Kragh, H., Equation with many fathers. The Klein-Gordon equation in 1926, American Journal of Physics, 52, 1024-1033 (1984) |
| [65] | Kragh, H., Dirac, a scientific biography (1990), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press Cambridge |
| [66] | Kramers, H.; Heisenberg, W., Über die Streuung von Strahlen durch Atoms, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 31, 681-708 (1925) · JFM 51.0748.08 |
| [67] | Lacki, J.; Ruegg, H.; Telegdi, V. L., The road to Stueckelberg’s covariant perturbation theory as illustrated by successive treatments of Compton scattering, Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 30B, 457-518 (1999) · Zbl 1222.81013 |
| [68] | Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (1982). The historical development of quantum theory; Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (1982). The historical development of quantum theory · Zbl 1041.81004 |
| [69] | Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (1987). The historical development of quantum theory; Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (1987). The historical development of quantum theory · Zbl 1041.81004 |
| [70] | Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (2000). The historical development of quantum theory; Mehra, J., & Rechenberg, H. (2000). The historical development of quantum theory · Zbl 1041.81004 |
| [71] | Meitner, L.; Hupfeld, H. H., Über die Prüfung der Streuungformel von Klein und Nishina an kurzwelliger γ-Strahlung, Naturwissenschaften, 18, 534-535 (1930) · JFM 56.0763.02 |
| [72] | Miller, A. (Ed.), (1994). Early quantum electrodynamicsA source book; Miller, A. (Ed.), (1994). Early quantum electrodynamicsA source book |
| [73] | Moseley, H. G.J., The high frequency spectra of the elements, Philosophical Magazine, 26, 1024 (1913) |
| [74] | Moseley, H. G.J., The high frequency spectra of the elements, Part II, Philosophical Magazine, 27, 703-713 (1914) |
| [75] | Moseley, H.; Darwin, C. G., The reflection of the X-rays, Nature, 90, 594 (1913) |
| [76] | Moyer, D. F., Origins of Dirac’s electron, 1925-1928, American Journal of Physics, 49, 944-949 (1981) |
| [77] | Moyer, D. F., Evaluation of Dirac’s electron, American Journal of Physics, 49, 1055-1062 (1981) |
| [78] | Moyer, D. F., Vindication of Dirac’s electron, American Journal of Physics, 49, 1120-1125 (1981) |
| [79] | Nishina, Y., Die Polarisation der Comptonstreuung nach der Diracschen Theorie des Elektrons, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 52, 869-877 (1929) · JFM 55.0532.05 |
| [80] | Nishina, Y., Polarization of Compton scattering according to Dirac’s new relativistic dynamics, Nature, 123, 349 (1929) · JFM 55.1182.21 |
| [81] | Pais, A., Inward bound (1986), Oxford University Press: Oxford University Press Oxford |
| [82] | Pauli, W. (1979). A. Hermann, K. v. Meyenn, & V. F. Weisskopf (Eds.), Scientific correspondence; Pauli, W. (1979). A. Hermann, K. v. Meyenn, & V. F. Weisskopf (Eds.), Scientific correspondence |
| [83] | Rechenberg, H., Quanta and quantum mechanics, (Brown, L. M.; Pais, A.; Pippard, B., Twentieth century physics (1995), American Institute of Physics Press: American Institute of Physics Press New York), 143-248 |
| [84] | Roqué, X., The manufacture of the positron, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 28, 1, 73 (1997) · Zbl 1222.81022 |
| [85] | Röntgen, W. C. (1895). Über eine neue Art von Strahlen. Vorläufige Mittheilung. Sitsber. phys.-med. Ges. Würtzburg, 137; Röntgen, W. C. (1895). Über eine neue Art von Strahlen. Vorläufige Mittheilung. Sitsber. phys.-med. Ges. Würtzburg, 137 |
| [86] | Schrödinger, E., Quantisierung als Eigenwertproblem (Erste Mitteilung), Annals of Physics, 79, 361-376 (1926) · JFM 52.0965.08 |
| [87] | Schrödinger, E., Über den Comptoneffekt, Annals of Physics, 82, 257-264 (1927) · JFM 53.0830.11 |
| [88] | Schweber, S. S., QED and the men who made itDyson, Feynman, Schwinger, and Tomonaga (1994), Princeton University Press: Princeton University Press Princeton · Zbl 0815.01011 |
| [89] | Schwinger, J. (Ed.), (1958). Selected papers on quantum electrodynamics; Schwinger, J. (Ed.), (1958). Selected papers on quantum electrodynamics · Zbl 0088.22203 |
| [90] | Serber, R., Particle physics in the 1930sa view from Berkeley, (Brown, L. M.; Hoddeson, L., The birth of particle physics (1983), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press Cambridge), 206-221 |
| [91] | Skobeltzyn, D., Über eine neue Art sehr Schneller β-strahlen, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 54, 686-702 (1929) |
| [92] | Stuewer, R., William H. Bragg’s corpuscular theory of X-rays and γ-rays, British Journal for History of Science, 5, 258-281 (1971) |
| [93] | Stuewer, R., The Compton effectTurning point in physics (1975), Science History Publications: Science History Publications New York |
| [94] | Tamm, I., Über die Wechselwirkung der freien Elektronen mit der Strahlung nach der Diracschen Theorie des Elektrons und nach der Quantenelektrodynamik, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 62, 545-568 (1930) · JFM 56.0757.04 |
| [95] | Thomson, J. J. (1903). Conduction of electricity through gases; Thomson, J. J. (1903). Conduction of electricity through gases · JFM 37.0880.01 |
| [96] | Van der Waerden, B. L. (1967). Sources of quantum mechanics; Van der Waerden, B. L. (1967). Sources of quantum mechanics · Zbl 0151.43604 |
| [97] | Waller, I., Die Streuung von Strahlung durch gebundene und freie Elektronen nach der Diracschen relativistischen Mechanik, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 61, 837-851 (1930) · JFM 56.1323.07 |
| [98] | Weiner, C. (Ed.), (1977). History of twentieth century physics; Weiner, C. (Ed.), (1977). History of twentieth century physics |
| [99] | Weisskopf, V. (1983). Growing up with field theory: the development of quantum electrodynamics (pp. 56-81). In L. M. Brown & L. Hoddeson (Eds.), The birth of particle physics; Weisskopf, V. (1983). Growing up with field theory: the development of quantum electrodynamics (pp. 56-81). In L. M. Brown & L. Hoddeson (Eds.), The birth of particle physics |
| [100] | Wentzel, G., Die Theorien des Compton-effektes. I, Physikalische Zeitschrift, 26, 436-454 (1925) · JFM 51.0749.02 |
| [101] | Wentzel, G., Zur Theorie des Comptoneffekts, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 43, 1-8 (1927) · JFM 53.0841.04 |
| [102] | Wentzel, G., Zur Theorie des Comptoneffekts. II, Zeitschrift fuer Physik, 43, 779-787 (1927) · JFM 53.0841.05 |
| [103] | Wheaton, B. R., Impulse X-rays and radiant intensityThe double edge of analogy, Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences, 11, 2, 367-390 (1981) |
| [104] | Wheaton, B. R., The tiger and the shark—empirical roots of wave-particle dualism (1983), Cambridge, University Press: Cambridge, University Press Cambridge |
| [105] | Yazaki, Y. (1992). How was the Klein-Nishina formula derived?-Based mainly on the source materials of Y. Nishina in RIKEN. Kagakusi Kenkyu, 31; Yazaki, Y. (1992). How was the Klein-Nishina formula derived?-Based mainly on the source materials of Y. Nishina in RIKEN. Kagakusi Kenkyu, 31 |
This reference list is based on information provided by the publisher or from digital mathematics libraries. Its items are heuristically matched to zbMATH identifiers and may contain data conversion errors. In some cases that data have been complemented/enhanced by data from zbMATH Open. This attempts to reflect the references listed in the original paper as accurately as possible without claiming completeness or a perfect matching.
