backscatter

  1. Noun.  The deflection of particles and/or radiation by nuclear and/or electromagnetic forces through angles greater than 90 degrees to the original direction of travel.
  2. Noun.  The particles and/or radiation deflected in this manner.
  3. Noun.  (military) A portion of the energy or a laser that is scattered back in the seeker's direction by an obscurant.
  4. Noun.  (computing) The sending of IP packets to essentially random addresses in response to incoming packets that have a spoofed origin.
  5. Verb.  To scatter particles and/or radiation by the atoms of the medium being passed through.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.