Scatteringstudier

Scatteringstudier is a term used to refer to researchers and studies focused on scattering phenomena—the deflection of waves or particles by inhomogeneous media. It encompasses theoretical, experimental, and computational work across disciplines such as physics, chemistry, materials science, and earth and atmospheric sciences. The central aim is to understand how structure, composition, and dynamics influence how waves and particles scatter.

Subfields include optical scattering (Rayleigh, Mie, Brillouin, and Raman scattering), X-ray and neutron scattering used to probe microstructure, electron scattering in solids, and acoustic or seismic scattering. Researchers study cross sections, phase functions, scattering lengths, and structure factors to infer size distributions, shapes, and interactions.

Methods range from laboratory experiments using spectrometers, goniometers, and detectors to large facilities such as synchrotrons, neutron sources, or laser laboratories. Analyses often involve theoretical models, such as Mie theory, the Debye–Bueche model, or the T-matrix method, plus numerical simulations and inverse problem techniques to reconstruct material properties from scattered signals.

Applications include characterizing nanomaterials and biological macromolecules, imaging and metrology, atmospheric science and climate research, and non-destructive testing of industrial materials. The field emphasizes quantitative interpretation and uncertainty assessment.

See also: light scattering, neutron scattering, X-ray scattering, Raman spectroscopy.