Quasielastic scattering

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In physics, quasielastic scattering designates a limiting case of inelastic scattering, characterized by energy transfers being small compared to the incident energy of the scattered particles.

The term was originally coined in nuclear physics. [1]

It was applied to thermal neutron scattering by Leon van Hove [2] and Pierre Gilles de Gennes [3] (quasielastic neutron scattering, QENS).

Finally, it is sometimes used for dynamic light scattering (also known by the more expressive term photon correlation spectroscopy).

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References

  1. Chamberlain, O.; Segrè, E.; Tripp, R.; Wiegand, C.; Ypsilantis, T. (1954-03-15). "Experiments with High-Energy Polarized Protons" (PDF). Physical Review. American Physical Society (APS). 93 (6): 1430–1431. doi:10.1103/physrev.93.1430. ISSN   0031-899X.
  2. Van Hove, L.; McVoy, K.W. (1962). "Pair distribution functions and scattering phenomena". Nuclear Physics. Elsevier BV. 33: 468–476. doi:10.1016/0029-5582(62)90539-4. ISSN   0029-5582.
  3. de Gennes, P.G. (1963). "Collective motions of hydrogen bonds". Solid State Communications. Elsevier BV. 1 (6): 132–137. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(63)90212-6. ISSN   0038-1098.