Scatter vs Diffusion: What’s the Difference?

[dervast]

Hi. I want to know what's the difference between scatter and diffusion... I am trying to understand what happens to the electromagnetic wave when we are talking about scattering and about light diffusion.. I think that the result of scattering it to make the light to diffuse.. Is that right?

 

[mathman]

Scattering usually is used when the number of changes by the medium is small and somewhat separated. Diffusion is used when there are a large number of changes and the separations are small.

 

[dervast]

Thx a lot for your answer but can u plx expalin me a little more what u have said above

 

[mathman]

For example - a photon (gamma ray) hits an electron and changes direction. This is a single scatter. Alternatively - light going through a fog undergoes many interactions (individual scatters don't mean much) This is diffusion. To some extent, quantitative difference becomes qualitative.