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Photonics Dictionary

Thomson scattering

Thomson scattering is a phenomenon in physics where electromagnetic radiation, such as light, is scattered by charged particles. It is named after the British physicist J.J. Thomson, who first described the scattering of electromagnetic waves by electrons in 1897.

In Thomson scattering, incident electromagnetic radiation interacts with free charged particles, such as electrons, in a medium. The electric field of the incident radiation accelerates the charged particles, causing them to oscillate. As a result of this oscillation, the charged particles emit radiation in all directions, including backscattering towards the source of the incident radiation.

Thomson scattering is most commonly observed in plasmas, such as those found in laboratory experiments, astrophysical environments (e.g., stellar atmospheres), and fusion research. It plays a crucial role in diagnostic techniques for measuring plasma properties, such as electron density and temperature.

The scattered radiation from Thomson scattering can be analyzed to extract information about the properties of the scattering medium, such as the density, temperature, and velocity of the charged particles. It is widely used in plasma physics research and diagnostics, as well as in remote sensing applications for studying astrophysical objects.

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