The backscatter effect refers to the specific phenomenon where waves or radiation are scattered back toward the source after interacting with an object or medium. This effect occurs when incident waves encounter particles, surfaces, or boundaries that reflect or scatter the waves in the direction from which they came. The intensity and characteristics of backscattered signals provide valuable information about the properties and composition of the objects or media that caused the scattering.
In practical applications such as radar, remote sensing and medical imaging, the backscatter effect is used to detect, analyze and image targets or structures based on reflected signals.
Scattering, in general, refers to the broader phenomenon where waves or radiation interact with objects or media and are redirected in various directions due to interaction with particles, obstacles or boundaries. It encompasses both forward scatter (where waves are scattered in the direction of propagation) and backscatter (where waves are scattered towards the source).
The main difference between backscatter and diffusion is the direction of the scattered waves relative to the direction of propagation of the incident wave. Backscatter refers specifically to waves or radiation scattered toward the source, while diffusion refers to waves scattered in any direction, including forward, backward, and sideways. Thus, backscatter is a specific type or subset of scattering that describes the redirection of waves or radiation back to their source after interacting with a material or object
