inelasticscattering

Inelastic scattering is a process in physics where a particle collides with another particle or a system and, in the process, energy is transferred between the colliding entities. This energy transfer means that the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved after the collision. This is in contrast to elastic scattering, where the total kinetic energy remains constant.

Inelastic scattering can occur in various contexts, including nuclear physics, atomic physics, and condensed matter physics. For example, in nuclear physics, a high-energy particle might collide with an atomic nucleus, exciting the nucleus to a higher energy state and losing some of its own kinetic energy in the process. Similarly, in atomic physics, an electron can scatter off an atom, transferring energy to excite one of the atom's electrons to a higher energy level.

The energy lost by the incident particle in inelastic scattering typically manifests as an increase in the internal energy of the target. This can include excitation of internal states, vibrations, or rotations of the target particle or system. The change in kinetic energy can be measured, and the energy spectrum of the scattered particles provides information about the internal energy levels of the target. This technique is fundamental to many experimental probes, such as spectroscopy.