Rayleighspredning

Rayleighspredning, also known as Rayleigh scattering, is a phenomenon in physics describing the scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light. This effect was first explained by Lord Rayleigh in the 19th century and is fundamental to understanding the color of the sky and atmospheric optics.

The scattering occurs when incoming light interacts with particles that are significantly smaller than the wavelength of the incident radiation, typically less than one-tenth. The intensity of Rayleigh scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength, meaning shorter wavelengths scatter much more strongly than longer wavelengths. As a result, blue and violet light are scattered more efficiently than red light, which accounts for the blue appearance of the daytime sky.

Rayleigh scattering depends on the size, shape, and refractive index of the scattering particles, as well as the wavelength of the incident light. In Earth's atmosphere, gases like nitrogen and oxygen are the primary scatterers. This scattering influences various natural phenomena, including the colors seen during sunrise and sunset, where the light path through the atmosphere is longer, scattering away much of the shorter wavelengths and allowing the longer red and orange wavelengths to reach the observer.

Beyond atmospheric optics, Rayleigh scattering has applications in fields such as astrophysics, chemical analysis, and climate science. It helps in remote sensing of atmospheric composition and in understanding the scattering properties of particles in various environments. Overall, Rayleigh scattering plays a crucial role in many natural and technological processes involving electromagnetic radiation.