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Scattering theory is a framework for studying and understanding the scattering of waves and particles. Wave scattering corresponds to the collision and scattering of a wave with some material object, for instance (sunlight) scattered by rain drops to form a rainbow.
Multiple-scattering effects of light scattering by particles are treated by radiative transfer techniques (see, e.g. atmospheric radiative transfer codes). The relative size of a scattering particle is defined by its size parameter x, which is the ratio of its characteristic dimension to its wavelength:
Tyndall scattering, i.e. colloidal particle scattering, [7] is much more intense than Rayleigh scattering due to the bigger particle sizes involved. [ citation needed ] The importance of the particle size factor for intensity can be seen in the large exponent it has in the mathematical statement of the intensity of Rayleigh scattering.
Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light, particularly blues and violets, more than longer wavelengths like reds and yellows, and this scattering is why the Sun appears yellow during the day or orange or red during sunrise and sunset. The scattered blue/violet light, appearing to come from all directions, is what makes the rest ...
Rayleigh scattering causes the blue color of the daytime sky and the reddening of the Sun at sunset. Rayleigh scattering (/ ˈ r eɪ l i / RAY-lee) is the scattering or deflection of light, or other electromagnetic radiation, by particles with a size much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation.
In scattering theory, the S-matrix is an operator mapping free particle in-states to free particle out-states (scattering channels) in the Heisenberg picture. This is very useful because often we cannot describe the interaction (at least, not the most interesting ones) exactly.
Forward scattering is the deflection of waves by small angles so that they continue to move in close to the same direction as before the scattering. It can occur with all types of waves, for instance light , ultraviolet radiation, X-rays as well as matter waves such as electrons , neutrons and even water waves .
However, there is also a specific, quantitative definition of "opacity", used in astronomy, plasma physics, and other fields, given here. In this use, "opacity" is another term for the mass attenuation coefficient (or, depending on context, mass absorption coefficient , the difference is described here ) κ ν {\displaystyle \kappa _{\nu }} at ...