Rayleigh scattering is elastic scattering by particles much smaller than the wavelength. For a fixed dielectric sphere, its scattering efficiency scales as the fourth power of the size-to-wavelength ratio.
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Rayleigh scattering is a phenomenon in which light or other electromagnetic radiation is scattered by particles that are much smaller than the wavelength of the light. Named after the British scientist Lord Rayleigh, who studied this effect in the 19th century, it explains why the sky appears blue during the day and can also contribute to the colors observed in sunsets and sunrises. The scattering occurs when light interacts with molecules in the atmosphere, such as nitrogen and oxygen.