Quasielastic scattering explained

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).

Notes and References

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