Scattering of emitted radiation from inhomogeneous and nonisothermal layers

A parametric study is performed for the exiting monochromatic intensities scattered from finite, plane-parallel, inhomogeneous layers that are driven solely by a distribution of thermal sources. Intensities are obtained by invariantly imbedding the standard and thermal scattering functions. The single scattering albedo ω and the Henyey-Greenstein phase-function parameter g are varied independently, and both linear and exponential profiles are considered. Linear temperature profiles are used, including temperature inversions. The resulting intensities I(μ), μ representing the direction cosine of propagation, are discussed from a remote sensing point of view. For an isothermal and homogeneous medium, the gross characteristics of I(μ) represented by its overall slope I(0)/I(1), mean value (magnitude), and an interior maximum value can be related to the total optical depth t₀, ω, and g, respectively. For a homogeneous medium, linearly decreasing (in the line of sight) temperature profiles tend to obscure the g information and decrease the apparent optical depth. On the other hand, linearly increasing temperature profiles tend to retain g information and increase the apparent optical depth. Temperature inversion profiles give intensities very similar to those for purely linear profiles. Linear and exponential variations of both ω and g for constant temperatures give similar intensity fields. Results for a variation in g can be reproduced fairly well with an average g value. This cannot be done, however, for ω profiles.     

On the numerical characteristics of an inverse solution for three-term radiative transfer

Certain numerical characteristics of an inverse formulation for three-term scattering radiative transfer are investigated. Specifically, approximate solutions to the direct problem are constructed by the F_N and Monte Carlo methods, allowing approximation of the various surface angular moments and related quantities needed for the inverse calculation. Several numerical schemes are employed in order of demonstrate the computational characteristics for some specific phase functions. The numerical results indicate that the single-scatter albedo can be calculated fairly consistently and accurately, but higher order coefficients of the scattering law are more difficult to obtain by this method.     

Green's function formulae for the internal intensity in radiative transfer computations by matrix-vector methods

In radiative transfer computations, Green's functions are particularly useful and have a straightforward physical interpretation, as discussed by Cogley and co-workers. By recognizing that, in thermal emission problems, the angular distribution of emission is prescribed a priori, one can obtain a more rapid computational procedure in which most computations are in discrete formalism one-dimensional or vector formulae.     

Variational methods in radiative transfer problems

An efficient variational-iterative method is applied to the problem of diffuse reflection by a plane-parallel inhomogeneous atmosphere with isotropic scattering. The emergent intensity I(τ = 0; μ, μ₀) with μ = μ₀ corresponds to the maximum of an associated functional. It is, however, shown that I(τ = 0; μ, μ₀) computed by the variational method alone has relatively large errors when μ ≠ μ₀. Such deficiencies are removed by a combined variational-iterative method. The interdependence of the iterative and variational methods is also investigated. They are shown to play a complementary role to each other. The proper choice of trial functions is emphasized in light of computational efficiency and flexibility. Two distinct classes of trial functions: the polynomials, and the step functions are investigated as possible choices of trial functions. The latter choice is shown to be far more efficient in computation. Numerical results for both approximate emergent intensities and source functions are presented and found to be in good agreement with the exact solutions. Simple analytic two-step function approximations of the source function and intensities are also presented for the case of a two-layer inhomogeneous model.     

Adding and invariant imbedding equations in matrix notation for all the scattering functions

Previous work by the author introduced a radiative formulation, containing a delta interior illumination, that allowed scattering solutions driven by internal sources to be handled in complete analogy to those for the standard problem (external delta illumination scattering through a medium). This analogy was made explicit by defining the three levels of scattering functions, S_s-level, $\text{S}$_s- and S_F-level, and $\text{S}$_F-level, that characterize scattering through, into and out of, and within a finite medium, respectively. For an inhomogeneous medium the invariant imbedding method was employed to solve for these functions. This paper continues the work by showing that: (1) Adding equations can be derived for all the scattering functions using one superposition formula. (2) Adding and invariant imbedding computational methods are closely related and should be used in combination for efficient calculations. (3) A new set of functions can be defined that represent scattering out of a medium driven by thermal sources. (4) All scattering functions can be converted to represent a planetary problem by one adding step. References are given for numerical results using this formulation.     

Comparison of radiative transfer approximations for a highly forward scattering planar medium

We examine critically the accuracy of the two-flux, spherical harmonics and discrete ordinates methods for predicting radiative transfer in a planar, highly-forward scattering and absorbing medium. Numerical results for the radiative fluxes show that the two-flux and P₃-approximations yield accurate results compared to solutions based on the F_N-method. Indeed, these approximate methods are relatively simple and have potential for generalization to predict radiative transfer in multidimensional systems, as long as an appropriate simplification of the phase function is utilized.     

Atom scattering as a probe of the surface electron-phonon interaction at conducting surfaces

An atomic projectile colliding with a surface at kinetic energies in the thermal or hyperthermal range interacts with and is reflected by the electronic density well in front of the first layer of target atoms, and it is generally accepted that the repulsive interaction potential is proportional to the density of electrons extending outside the surface. This review develops a complete treatment of the elastic and inelastic scattering of atoms from a conducting surface in which the interaction with the electron density and its vibrations is treated using electron-phonon coupling theory. Starting from the basic principles of formal scattering theory, the elastic and inelastic scattering intensities are developed in a manner that identifies the small overlap region in the surface electron density where the projectile atom is repelled. The effective vibrational displacements of the electron gas, which lead to energy transfer through excitation of phonons, are directly related to the vibrational displacements of the atomic cores in the target crystal via electron-phonon coupling. The effective Debye-Waller factor for atom-surface scattering is developed and related to the mean square displacements of the atomic cores. The complex dependence of the Debye-Waller factor on momentum and energy of the projectile, including the effects of the attractive adsorption well in the interaction potential, are clearly defined. Applying the standard approximations of electron-phonon coupling theory for metals to the distorted wave Born approximation leads to expressions which relate the elastic and inelastic scattering intensities, as well as the Debye-Waller factor, to the well known electron-phonon coupling constant λ. This treatment reproduces the previously obtained result that the intensities for single phonon inelastic peaks in the scattered spectra are proportional to the mode specific mass correction components λ_Q,ν defined by the relationship λ = 〈λ_Q,ν〉. The intensities of elastic diffraction peaks are shown to be a weighted sum over the λ_Q,ν, and the Debye-Waller factor can also be expressed in terms of a similar weighted summation. In the simplest case the Debye-Waller exponent is shown to be proportional to λ and for simple metals, metal overlayers, and other kinds of conducting surfaces values of λ are extracted from available experimental data. This dependence of the elastic and inelastic scattering, and that of the Debye-Waller factor, on the electron-phonon coupling constant λ shows that measurements of elastic and inelastic spectra of atomic scattering are capable of revealing detailed information about the electron-phonon coupling mechanism in the surface electron density.     

Radiative transfer calculations in spheres and cylinders

Integral transformation techniques and the F_N method are used to solve, for the case of isotropic scattering, radiative transfer problems in spherical and cylindrical geometries. Numerical results accurate to five or six significant figures are given for selected cases basic to problems with internal heat generation and emitting and diffusely reflecting surfaces.     

Infrared radiative transfer modelling in a 3D scattering cloudy atmosphere: Application to limb sounding measurements of cirrus

The Monte Carlo cloud scattering forward model (McClouds_FM) has been developed to simulate limb radiative transfer in the presence of cirrus clouds, for the purposes of simulating cloud contaminated measurements made by an infrared limb sounding instrument, e.g. the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). A reverse method three-dimensional Monte Carlo transfer model is combined with a line-by-line model for radiative transfer through the non-cloudy atmosphere to explicitly account for the effects of multiple scattering by the clouds. The ice cloud microphysics are characterised by a size distribution of randomly oriented ice crystals, with the single scattering properties of the distribution determined by accurate calculations accounting for non-spherical habit.A comparison of McClouds_FM simulations and real MIPAS spectra of cirrus shows good agreement. Of particular interest are several noticeable spectral features (i.e. H₂O absorption lines) in the data that are replicated in the simulations: these can only be explained by upwelling tropospheric radiation scattered into the line-of-sight by the cloud ice particles.     

Time-dependent radiative transfer using Chapman-Enskog maximum entropy method

The time-dependent problems of radiative transfer involve a coupling between radiation and material energy fields and are nonlinear because of proposed temperature dependence of the medium characteristics in semi-infinite medium with Rayleigh anisotropic scattering. By means of the limited flux, Chapman-Enskog and maximum entropy technique the time-dependent radiative transfer equation has been solved explicitly. The maximum entropy method is used to solve the resulting differential equation for radiative energy density. The calculations are carried out for temperature (normalized dimensionless) Θ(x,τ), radiative energy density and net flux with Rayleigh and anisotropic scattering for different space at different times.     

A semi-analytical numerical method for time-dependent radiative transfer problems in slab geometry with coherent isotropic scattering

We describe a semi-analytical numerical method for coherent isotropic scattering time-dependent radiative transfer problems in slab geometry. This numerical method is based on a combination of two classes of numerical methods: the spectral methods and the Laplace transform (LTS_N) methods applied to the radiative transfer equation in the discrete ordinates (S_N) formulation. The basic idea is to use the essence of the spectral methods and expand the intensity of radiation in a truncated series of Laguerre polynomials in the time variable and then solve recursively the resulting set of “time-independent” S_N problems by using the LTS_N method. We show some numerical experiments for a typical model problem.     

Suppression factors for vector-meson-dominance couplings implied by duality

It is noted that recent experiments on φ decays indicate a suppression of the radiative decay by about a factor of 3 less than the vector-meson-dominance model predictions. FESR's on pion compton scattering amplitudes with identical t-channels but different direct channel resonances are shown to relate radiative decays of A₂ and ω. This again leads to a suppression factor of 3 to 4 for the A₂ radiative decay relative to the VMD prediction.     

Exploiting the linearity of radiative transfer

A standard problem in radiative transfer is finding the external and internal radiative fields produced by uniform, parallel rays illuminating the top of a one-dimensional, scattering and absorbing medium of finite optical thickness. This problem has been solved in several ways with various physical restrictions. One approach is by finding the source function that represents the rate of production of scattered radiation per unit volume per unit solid angle at each point in the medium. The present paper develops and uses the idea that the standard source function is an influence function for a given medium. The linearity of radiative transfer is then used to find certain general source functions in terms of the standard one. The usefulness of the above concept is demonstrated by the following four problems: (1) derivation of Chandrasekhar's four principles of invariance from the radiative transfer equation, (2) derivation of the equations governing Chandrasekhar's X- and Y- functions without using the invariance principles or resolvent kernels, (3) finding the source function for a medium with a Lambert's-law bottom, and (4) finding the source function for a medium with a bottom that is a perfect specular reflector.     

The generalized exponential-integral V(x,y)=∫1∞ exp(−xt)ln(t+y)dtt and computer algorithms for y = 0, 1

The generalized exponential-integral function V(x, y) defined here includes as special cases the function E⁽²⁾₁(x) = V(x, 0) introduced by van de Hulst and functions M₀(x) = V(x, 1) and N₀(x) = V(x, -1) introduced by Kourganoff in connection with integrals of the form ∫ E_n)t)E_m(t±x), which play an important role in the theory of monochromatic radiative transfer. Series and asymptotic expressions are derived and, for the most important special cases, y = 0 and y = 1, Chebyshev expansions and rational approximations are obtained that permit the function to be evaluated to at least 10 sf on 0<x<∞ using 16 sf arithmetic.     

A model for ionization balance and L-shell spectroscopy of non-LTE plasmas

We have developed a model for calculating ionic charge-state distribution and level populations in steady-state nonlocal thermal equilibrium (non-LTE) plasmas. We use this normalize the relative populations for a single ionization stage so that we can compute spectral line intensities as functions of electron temperature and density. These relative populations are determined by the balance of three processes: collisional excitation, de-excitation, and radiative spontaneous emission. As an application of the model, we have computed spectral-line intensities for all the Δn = transitions of nitrogen-, oxygen- and flourine-like argon ions, and we have used these results to analyze recent experiments.     

On intrinsic oscillation in radiation-affected diffusion flames

A linear stability analysis is conducted to study the onset of near-limit flame oscillation with radiative heat loss in 1-D chambered planar flames using multi-scale activation-energy asymptotics. The oscillatory instability near the radiation-induced extinction limit at large Damköhler numbers is identified, in additional to the one near the kinetic limit at small Damköhler numbers. It is shown that radiative loss assumes a similar role as varying the thermal diffusivity of the reactants. Thus, flame oscillation near the radiative limit is still thermal-diffusive in nature although it may develop under unity Lewis numbers. The unstable range of Damköhler numbers near the radiative limit shows quite similar parametric dependence on the Lewis numbers of reactants, Le_F and Le_O, the stoichiometry, ?, and the radiative loss as that near the kinetic limit. They both increase monotonically with Le_O and ? and increase then decrease with Le_F. Increasing radiative loss extends the parameter range under which flame oscillations may develop. However, they show different dependence on the temperature difference between the supplying reactants. Unless radiative loss approaches its maximum value the system can sustain, flame oscillation near the radiative limit is only possible within a limited range of ΔT, whereas it is promoted monotonically with decreasing ΔT near the kinetic limit. Furthermore, while radiative loss shows small effect on the nondimensional oscillation frequency, the dimensional frequency of flame oscillations near the radiative limit can be substantially smaller than that near the kinetic limit.     

Elliptic PDE formulation and boundary conditions of the spherical harmonics method of arbitrary order for general three-dimensional geometries

The inherent complexity of the radiative transfer equation makes the exact treatment of radiative heat transfer impossible even for idealized situations and simple boundary conditions. Therefore, a wide variety of efficient solution methods have been developed for the RTE. Among these solution methods the spherical harmonics method, the moment method, and the discrete ordinates method provide means to obtain higher-order approximate solutions to the equation of radiative transfer. Although the assembly of the governing equations for the spherical harmonics method requires tedious algebra, their final form promises great accuracy for any given order, since it is a spectral method (rather than finite difference/finite volume in the case of discrete ordinates). In this study, a new methodology outlined in a previous paper on the spherical harmonics method (P_N) is further developed. The new methodology employs successive elimination of spherical harmonic tensors, thus reducing the number of first-order partial differential equations needed to be solved simultaneously by previous P_N approximations (=(N+1)²). The result is a relatively small set (=N(N+1)/2) of second-order, elliptic partial differential equations, which can be solved with standard PDE solution packages. General boundary conditions and supplementary conditions using rotation of spherical harmonics in terms of local coordinates are formulated for the general P_N approximation for arbitrary three-dimensional geometries. Accuracy of the P_N approximation can be further improved by applying the “modified differential approximation” approach first developed for the P₁-approximation. Numerical computations are carried out with the P₃ approximation for several new two-dimensional problems with emitting, absorbing, and scattering media. Results are compared to Monte Carlo solutions and discrete ordinates simulations and a discussion of ray effects and false scattering is provided.     

Inverse solutions to radiative-transfer problems with partially transparent boundaries and diffuse reflection

Analytical techniques are used to solve a class of inverse radiative-transfer problems relevant to finite and semi-infinite plane-parallel media. While the assumption of isotropic scattering is made, diffuse reflection is allowed at the surface, for the semi-infinite case, and at both surfaces for the case of a finite layer. For the general case based on a semi-infinite medium, a cubic algebraic equation is used to define the basic result, but for the specific case of a semi-infinite medium illuminated by a constant incident distribution of radiation, very simple exact expressions are developed for the albedo for single scattering ? and the coefficient for diffuse reflection ρ. Analytical results are also developed (again in terms of a cubic algebraic equation) for the case of a finite layer with equal reflection coefficients relevant to the two surfaces. For the general case of a finite layer with unequal reflection coefficients, two specific formulations are given. The first algorithm is based on a system of three quadratic algebraic equations for the two reflection coefficients ρ₁ and ρ₂ and the single-scattering albedo ?. Secondly, an elimination between these three algebraic equations is carried out to yield two coupled algebraic equations for ρ₁ and ρ₂ plus an explicit expression for ? in terms of ρ₁ and ρ₂. In addition, an exact expression for τ₀, the optical thickness of the finite layer, is developed in terms of ?, ρ₁ and ρ₂. As is typical with the considered class of inverse problems in radiative transfer, all surface quantities are either specified or considered available from experimental measurements. All basic results are tested numerically.     

Numerical results for finite order X and Y functions of radiative transfer

It is well known that, in the theory of radiative transfer, Chandrasekhar's X and Y functions play an important role in the diffuse reflection and transmission problem (cf. Chandrashekhar⁽¹⁾). In a preceding paper (cf. Bellmanet al.⁽¹⁰⁾), graphs and selected tables of these functions covering wide ranges of slab thickness and albedos for single scattering have been provided. In this paper, making use of a system of coupled integral recurrence relations for finite order X and Y functions (cf. Bellmanet al.⁽¹⁴⁾), numerical results for these basic functions are tabulated up to optical thickness τ = 2.0 from τ = 0.1, assuming the conservative case of isotropic scattering. The maximum order of these functions is taken to be fifteenth. It is shown that the accuracy obtained is satisfactory in the domain under consideration. Furthermore, numerical results for Chandrasekhar's approximation for X and Y functions are also tabulated for stabs of small optical thickness.