scattered X ray

Scattered X-rays are a phenomenon where X-rays change direction after interacting with matter. This interaction can occur through processes like Compton scattering, where an incoming X-ray photon collides with an electron, transferring some of its energy and altering its path.1

X-rays themselves are a form of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths, discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895. Their wave-like nature was confirmed through diffraction by crystals, demonstrating their ability to interact with the atomic structures of materials. This scattering property is fundamental to techniques like X-ray crystallography, used to determine the atomic arrangements within crystals.2345