Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1977
Keywords
Quantum theory; Radiation; Science--History
Abstract
Arthur Holly Compton, as a result of his own research and confidence in the validity of classical electrodynamics, was convinced in 1921 that homogeneous x-rays and gamma rays could be affected in only two possible ways when passing through matter: either they gave rise to "truly scattered" radiation of the same wavelength as that of the incident rays, or they excited "fluorescent" radiation of a longer wavelength. When Compton was led to carry out experiments using homogeneous x-rays and actually found secondary radiation of longer wavelength, he regarded his result as a crucial test between the "truly scattered" and the "fluorescent" radiation hypotheses and concluded that the latter was correct. More than a year later, late in 1922, Compton realized that he had found the strongest contemporary evidence for the quantum theory of radiation.
First Page
22
Last Page
25
Recommended Citation
Stuewer, R. H.
(1977).
Compton's 'Crucial Test' - Theoretical Preconceptions and Experimental Interpretation.
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 43 No.1, 22-25.
Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/jmas/vol43/iss1/7
Primo Type
Article