Astrophysics (Index)About

electron scattering

(any process that changes the course of an electron)

Electron scattering is a general term for phenomena that change the course of a free electron: pretty much any interaction with another particle that leaves the electron free. The scattering can be caused by an electric force, i.e., when it encounters a charged particle such as another electron or a nucleus, or can be electron diffraction per to its de Broglie wavelength, or it can be the "kick" it receives when it scatters a photon.

The term electron scattering is also used more specifically as a class of photon scattering, indicating the object scattering the photon is a free electron, i.e., "scattering by an electron", but such an electron does have its course changed as well, though the change may be small. Some photon scattering and emission mechanisms that involve a charged particle:

The charged particle can be an electron, thus, in many cases they constitute electron scattering.


(physics,particles)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_scattering
https://www.britannica.com/science/electron-scattering

Referenced by pages:
absorption
Compton scattering
Compton wavelength
neutron scattering
scattering
Thomson scattering

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