hajasäteily

Hajasäteily refers to scattered radiation in various scientific and technical contexts. In physics, it describes electromagnetic radiation, such as light or X-rays, that has been deflected from its original path by interacting with matter. This deflection can occur through processes like Rayleigh scattering, where light waves interact with particles much smaller than their wavelength, or Compton scattering, an inelastic collision between a photon and a charged particle, typically an electron. Hajasäteily plays a role in phenomena like the blue color of the sky, where sunlight is scattered by atmospheric molecules.

In medical imaging, particularly in diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy, hajasäteily is a critical consideration. When X-rays pass through a patient, they can be scattered, leading to a loss of image contrast and an increase in the radiation dose to surrounding tissues. Techniques like anti-scatter grids are employed in X-ray imaging to absorb scattered photons and improve image quality. In radiotherapy, the precise delivery of radiation to a tumor is affected by hajasäteily, which can irradiate healthy tissues beyond the intended target. Understanding and mitigating hajasäteily is therefore essential for both diagnostic accuracy and patient safety in medical applications.