Radiation Processes in Astronomy - Radiative Processes in Astronomy: L17 - Compton Scattering

This lecture considers Compton scattering as the general case of the low-energy Thomson limit for electron scattering. We obtain the frequency-shift in the scattered photon, the Compton wavelength, and discuss Componisation (degradation of photon energy) in the early Universe. We then also consider the inverse process -- inverse Compton scattering -- obtaining from special relativity the photon energy-boost (hardening of spectra) and discuss the key Sunayev-Zeldovich application to the low-energy CBR scattered within the very hot Gas in between galaxies in large clusters. Course: Radiation Processes in Astronomy Lecturer: Prof. Jon Sundqvist Programme: KU Leuven Bachelor Physics & Master Astronomy & Astrophysics #astrophysics #astronomy #education I record lectures live and place them here un-edited, in the hope that it will provide a more authentic feeling of the sort: "we're doing the actual work here and now". So like I keep telling students in the classroom: whenever you discover me doing some error let me know directly; for this channel this means make a comment on the videos. Then we can have a look at it, and thereby learn nicely from each other as we continue to develop our knowledge. You find all lectures under: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrGAIWCGSKlDXALWS_6R4Bv3D1vEk85NX I've also started to post some 'extended versions' of these lectures - sometimes including additional material from elsewhere and previous years - here: https://www.youtube.com/@JonSundqvist If you're interested more in my group's research, here're two links for that: https://fys.kuleuven.be/ster/research-projects/equation-folder/equation-home