Rayleigh scattering

Rayleigh scattering

n.

The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation, resulting in angular separation of colors and responsible for the reddish color of sunset and the blue of the sky.

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[After Third Baron Rayleigh.]

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Rayleigh scattering

n

(Physics / General Physics) a process in which electromagnetic radiation is elastically deflected by particles of matter, without a change of frequency but with a phase change

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Rayleigh scattering

The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation. The frequency of the radiation is not altered by this form of scattering, though the phase of the light is usually changed. Because the amount of Rayleigh scattering is greater at shorter frequencies, more scattering of the sun's rays by the Earth's atmosphere occurs on the blue end of the spectrum than at the red end, thus more blue light reaches the Earth, and the sky generally appears blue. Compare Raman effect. See also Compton effect.