Compton and Thomson scattering in strong magnetic fields

Abstract

The differential cross section for scattering of photons by electrons in a strong magnetic field is calculated. The relativistic treatment is performed for electrons in the lowest Landau level. By specializing to the nonrelativistic region, cross sections for Thomson scattering are given for an arbitrary direction of the photon with respect to the magnetic field. These results are in agreement with previous calculations. The relativistic cross sections are numerically calculated to compare them explicitly with the nonrelativistic case and to present numerical values which can be used, for instance, in practical applications to neutron stars.