Wave–particle duality of radiation in Compton scattering

In this work we analyze the wave–particle aspects of radiation in (incoherent) Compton scattering in the radiation energy range from 2–100 keV. From the calculated cross sections of the scattering from the electron (positron), hydrogen and positronium we construct the interpretation functions (IFs), where our assertion is that the Compton scattering from the free electron (positron) is an established example of the particle behavior of radiation. These IFs estimate the possibility of the interpretation of radiation in terms of waves or particles in an analogy with the analysis carried out in the coherent scattering of light. Based on these IFs we propose a new criterion for the estimation of the validity of the impulse approximation (IA). (paper)