Arthur Compton (1892-1962) was an American physicist who made significant contributions in the field of quantum physics and is best known for his discovery of the Compton effect, which provided experimental evidence for the particle-like nature of electromagnetic radiation.
Born in Wooster, Ohio, Compton obtained his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1916 and went on to teach and conduct research at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis. His work on X-ray scattering, conducted in the early 1920s, led to the discovery that X-rays can behave like particles, later named photons. This groundbreaking finding supported the wave-particle duality theory of light, proposed by Albert Einstein, and earned Compton the 1927 Nobel Prize in Physics.
The Compton effect, also known as Compton scattering, refers to the change in the wavelength of X-rays or gamma rays when they collide with electrons, providing direct evidence for photons having both wave and particle characteristics. This phenomenon paved the way for the quantum theory of light and the development of quantum electrodynamics.
Aside from his work in physics, Compton served in the Manhattan Project during World War II, contributing to the development of the atomic bomb. He also played a prominent role in science education, working to popularize and promote interest in physics.
Today, Arthur Compton is recognized as a distinguished figure in the history of physics, whose discoveries have had a profound impact on our understanding of the nature of light and its interaction with matter.
