Inelastic scattering occurs when particles collide and exchange energy, resulting in a change in the internal state of one or both of the particles involved. This process is crucial for understanding how energy is transferred in interactions and can lead to changes in momentum and kinetic energy. Inelastic scattering plays an important role in determining scattering cross-sections and can affect phase shifts, as well as provide insight into the properties of the interacting particles through partial wave analysis.
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