"Scattering is a term used in physics to describe a wide range of physical processes where moving particles or radiation of some form [...] are forced to deviate from a straight trajectory by localized non-uniformities."
The process by which materials scatter particles and waves, such as electrons, photons, and phonons.
Basic Quantum Mechanics: Understanding the basic principles of quantum mechanics is essential for understanding scattering in solid-state physics. The wave-particle duality, wave function, Schrödinger's equation, and probability amplitude are some of the fundamental concepts you should know.
Energy-Momentum Relation: The energy-momentum relation helps to understand the nature of particles and how they move in a solid-state. It explains the behavior of particles during scattering.
Partial Waves: Partial Waves are used to expand the wave function of a particle in a solid-state into a series of infinite waves. It helps in the calculation of the scattering amplitude and provides information about the nature of scattering for different scattering potentials.
Born Approximation: The Born Approximation technique is used to calculate the scattering amplitude due to a scattering potential. It is used when the interaction potential is weak, and the scattered waves are far from the target.
Multiple Scattering Theory: Multiple Scattering Theory is used to calculate the scattering amplitudes when the particles interact strongly with the target. It is used when the Born Approximation is not valid.
Phonon Scattering: Phonons are the quantized vibrations of atoms in a solid-state, and the scattering of phonons plays a significant role in the transport of heat and electricity in solids. Understanding this process is crucial in solid-state physics.
Electrons Scattering: Electrons scattering is also essential in solid-state physics, and it plays a critical role in understanding the electrical conductivity, electronic devices, and many other properties of materials.
Density Functional Theory: Density functional theory is a powerful tool used in solid-state physics to calculate the properties of materials. It employs a wave function, which indirectly depends on the density of electrons.
Monte Carlo Method: Monte Carlo Simulation is used in solid-state physics to simulate the behavior of particles in a system. It is a highly useful tool for understanding the scattering process and studying the properties of materials.
Transport Theory: Understanding transport in solids is also essential in solid-state physics. The transport theory encompasses electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and radiation heat transfer.
Magnetic Scattering: The scattering of neutrons by magnetic materials is known as magnetic scattering. Knowledge of this process is essential to the study of magnetism in solid-state physics.
X-ray Diffraction: X-ray diffraction is a technique used to analyze the structures of crystal lattices in solids. It plays a crucial role in the study of materials science.
Neutron Scattering: Neutron scattering is a technique used to study the properties of materials at the atomic and subatomic level. It provides valuable information on the structure and properties of materials.
Rutherford Scattering: Rutherford Scattering is used to study the structure of an atomic nucleus. It plays a vital role in the study of nuclear physics and materials science.
Surface Scattering: Surface scattering is used to analyze the properties of a solid-state surface. It plays a vital role in the study of materials science and semiconductor technology.
Rayleigh Scattering: It is an elastic scattering process that occurs when light interacts with a particle that is much smaller than the wavelength of the light. The scattered photons have the same frequency and propagate in all directions.
Mie Scattering: It is an elastic scattering process that occurs when light interacts with a particle that is similar in size to the wavelength of the light. Unlike Rayleigh scattering, the scattered photons have different frequencies and propagation directions.
Raman Scattering: It is an inelastic scattering process that occurs when light interacts with a molecule or crystal lattice, causing a shift in the energy of the scattered photons. This shift is characteristic of the material and can be used for chemical identification.
Brillouin Scattering: It is an inelastic scattering process that occurs when light interacts with acoustic phonons in a material, causing a shift in the energy of the scattered photons. This shift is characteristic of the material's mechanical properties.
Compton Scattering: It is an inelastic scattering process that occurs when a photon interacts with a free electron, causing a shift in the energy and direction of the scattered photon. This process is used in X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopy.
Elastic Scattering: It is a scattering process where the energy and momentum of the scattered particles are conserved, and no energy transfer occurs.
Inelastic Scattering: It is a scattering process where the energy and momentum of the scattered particles are not conserved, and energy is transferred between the particles.
Neutron Scattering: It is a scattering process where neutron beams are used to probe the internal structure of materials, providing information about the arrangement of atoms and molecules.
X-ray Scattering: It is a scattering process where X-rays are used to probe the internal structure of materials, providing information about the arrangement of atoms and molecules.
Electron Scattering: It is a scattering process where electrons are used to probe the internal structure of materials, providing information about the arrangement of atoms and molecules.
"In conventional use, this also includes deviation of reflected radiation from the angle predicted by the law of reflection."
"As more 'ray'-like phenomena were discovered, the idea of scattering was extended to them, so that William Herschel could refer to the scattering of 'heat rays' (not then recognized as electromagnetic in nature) in 1800."
"John Tyndall, a pioneer in light scattering research, noted the connection between light scattering and acoustic scattering in the 1870s."
"With the discovery of subatomic particles [...] the sense of the term became broader as it was recognized that the same mathematical frameworks used in light scattering could be applied to many other phenomena."
"Examples include: cosmic ray scattering in the Earth's upper atmosphere; particle collisions inside particle accelerators; electron scattering by gas atoms in fluorescent lamps; and neutron scattering inside nuclear reactors."
"...a small sample includes particles, bubbles, droplets, density fluctuations in fluids, crystallites in polycrystalline solids, defects in monocrystalline solids, surface roughness, cells in organisms, and textile fibers in clothing."
"Some areas where scattering and scattering theory are significant include radar sensing, medical ultrasound, semiconductor wafer inspection, polymerization process monitoring, acoustic tiling, free-space communications and computer-generated imagery."
"Particle-particle scattering theory is important in areas such as particle physics, atomic, molecular, and optical physics, nuclear physics and astrophysics."
"Scattering is quantified using many different concepts, including scattering cross section (σ), attenuation coefficients, the bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF), S-matrices, and mean free path."