Compton u-channel

Perturbative order$\alpha$ (tree level)
Topologyu-channel
Symmetry factorCounts overcounting in the perturbation series. If a diagram has internal symmetries—ways to relabel internal lines and get the same diagram back—the symmetry factor divides that out. Most QED diagrams have S=1; the vacuum polarization bubble has S=1/2 because swapping the two internal fermion lines gives the same diagram.1.0
Divergence finite

Contributes to

Compton scattering

The outgoing photon attaches to the electron line before the incoming photon, so the virtual electron carries momentum $k = p - q'$.

The computational chain

From diagram to number—every step of the amplitude calculation.

Crossed Compton diagram
$$i\mathcal{M}_u = (-ie)^2\,\bar{u}(p')\gamma^\mu\frac{i(\not{p}-\not{q}'+m)}{(p-q')^2-m^2}\gamma^\nu u(p)\,\epsilon_\mu(q)\epsilon_\nu^*(q')$$
The photon vertices appear in the opposite order compared to the s-channel: the outgoing photon attaches before the incoming one. The virtual electron carries momentum $p - q'$ with $k^2 = u$. Both channels must be summed for gauge invariance.

Related diagrams

Crossing Symmetry