An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The change in the → spectrum of → electromagnetic radiation due to → scattering from → electrons. When → photons and electrons coexist in the same volume of space, their → collisions can → transfer energy from photons to electrons (→ Compton effect) or from electrons to photons (→ inverse Compton effect).

See also: Verbal noun of → Comptonize; → -tion.