Eur. Phys. J. D 1, 317-327 (1998)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050099

Semiclassical theory of Compton and photoelectric effects

R. Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Republic of Croatia

Corresponding author: ^a dbosanac@faust.irb.hr

Received: 16 September 1996
Revised: 14 April 1997
Accepted: 5 January 1998
Published online: 15 March 1998

Abstract

Scattering of a plane electromagnetic wave by free and bound wave packets is analyzed by semiclassical radiation theory. It is shown that the theory gives the correct answer to the question of radiation intensity in the photoelectric effect and to the correlation problem in Compton scattering. The expression for the intensity of the scattered radiation differs from the cross section which is derived from the model based on the particle nature of the electromagnetic field. The meaning of this difference is discussed. Low frequency spectrum of the scattered radiation on a bound charge is obtained.