Rayleigh scattering

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05160
The @S05487@ of light by particles and molecules which are much smaller than the @W06659@ of the light. In the ideal case, the process is one of pure dipole and induced dipole interactions with the electric field of the light wave. The @S05487@ cross section for light of @W06659@ \(\lambda \) is proportional to \(\lambda ^{-4}\).
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. (Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)) on page 2209 [Terms] [Paper]