Light scattering by coated Gaussian and aggregate particles

Light scattering by nonspherical and inhomogeneous small particles is studied by varying particle shapes, sizes, and compositions. We introduce an efficient tool for deforming particle shape and composition by adding a coating on an initial particle. This concave-hull transformation is applied to wavelength-scale Gaussian and aggregate particles, and the differences in the optical properties of the coated particles are compared to those of the uncoated geometries. The light-scattering computations are performed using the discrete-dipole approximation method which allows for internal inhomogeneity and irregular particle shapes. The results are analyzed concentrating on the intensity of the scattered light, the degree of linear polarization for unpolarized incident light, and the depolarization ratio. Polarization results yield the most significant differences and, moreover, coated aggregates are observed to produce net positive polarization, whereas it is negative for the Gaussian particles, also resembling the polarization of a spherical particle. As for the depolarization ratio, an intriguing double-lobe feature is observed near the backscattering direction for both particle geometries regardless of size, shape, and composition. The double-lobe maxima and minima generally coincide with those of the intensity and polarization.     

Light scattering by slightly nonspherical particles on surfaces

We investigate the shape dependence of the scattering by dielectric and metallic particles on surfaces by considering particles whose free-space scattering properties are nearly identical. The scattering by metallic particles is strongly dependent on the shape of the particle in the region near where the particle touches the surface. The scattering by dielectric particles displays a weaker, but nonetheless significant, dependence on particle shape. These results have a significant effect on the use of light scattering to size and identify particles on surfaces.     

Light scattering by small feldspar particles simulated using the Gaussian random sphere geometry

The single-scattering properties of Gaussian random spheres are calculated using the discrete dipole approximation. The ensemble of model particles is assumed to be representative for a feldspar dust sample that is characteristic for weakly absorbing irregularly shaped mineral aerosol. The morphology of Gaussian random spheres is modeled based on a statistical shape analysis using microscope images of the dust sample. The size distribution of the dust sample is based on a particle sizing experiment. The refractive index of feldspar is estimated using literature values. All input parameters used in the light scattering simulations are thus obtained in an objective way based on the true properties of the mineral sample. The orientation-averaged and ensemble-averaged scattering matrices and cross sections of the Gaussian random spheres are compared with light scattering simulations using spheroidal shape models which have been shown to be applicable to the feldspar sample. The Gaussian random sphere model and the spheroidal shape model are assessed using the measured scattering matrix of the feldspar dust sample as a reference. Generally, the spheroidal model with strongly elongated prolate and strongly flattened oblate shapes agrees better with the measurement than the Gaussian random sphere model. In contrast, some features that are characteristic for light scattering by truly irregular mineral dust particles are rendered best by the Gaussian random sphere model; these features include the flat shape of the phase function and a minimum in the scattering matrix element F₂₂/F₁₁ as a function of the scattering angle.     

Light scattering by Gaussian random ellipsoid particles: First results with discrete-dipole approximation

We introduce the stochastic geometry of a Gaussian random ellipsoid (GE) and, with the discrete-dipole approximation, carry out preliminary computations for light scattering by wavelength-scale GE particles. In the GE geometry, we describe the base ellipsoid by the three semiaxes a?b?c. The axial ratios b:a and c:a appear as two shape parameters additional to those of the Gaussian random sphere geometry (GS). We compare the scattering characteristics of GE particles to those of ellipsoids. Introducing irregularities on ellipsoids smoothens the angular scattering characteristics, in a way analogous to the smoothening of spherical particle characteristics in the case of GS particles.     

Computer programs for light scattering by particles with inclusions

We present a comparison of computational results from light scattering by spherical particles with inclusions. The different simulation methods like the T-matrix method, multiple multipole method and the method of separation of variables are presented shortly. Exemplary numerical simulations involve scattering by particles with one or two spherical inclusions and scattering by particles with non-spherical inclusions.     

Light scattering by a spheroidal bubble with geometrical optics approximation

This paper proposes the spheroidal model for analyzing the light scattering characteristics of an air bubble. The angular distributions of light scattered by a large spheroidal bubble with end-on incidence are calculated using geometrical optics approximation. The divergence factor, diffraction, and phase shift are considered in the computation. The MATLAB code was developed and verified using the Mie result for a spherical bubble, and the scattering patterns of the two methods agreed well. The effects on the scattering properties are analyzed in terms of the size and shape parameter of the bubble and the incident beam width. The relations between the deviation angle and incident angle, emergent light intensity, and scattering angle are analyzed and used to explain the scattering patterns of a spheroidal bubble.     

Light scattering by dielectric particles with axial symmetry

A new method is suggested for solving the problem of scattering of a plane electromagnetic wave by dielectric particles with the axial symmetry. The method is based on the separation of fields into two parts: the axially symmetric part, which is independent of the angle of rotation, and the part that is not axially symmetric, which vanishes upon averaging over this angle. The scattering problem is solved separately for each of the parts. In the first case, scalar potentials related to the azimuthal components of electromagnetic fields are used, and in the second case, superpositions of the Debye potentials and vertical components of the Hertz vectors are used. The surface integral equations for these potentials are obtained. They are represented as expansions in the spherical wave functions. The infinite systems of linear algebraic equations are obtained for unknown expansion coefficients. Our calculations demonstrated the high efficiency of the new method.     

Light scattering by needle-type and disk-type particles

A powerful tool to analyze light scattering by 3D arbitrary-shaped homogeneous or inhomogeneous obstacles located in free space is based on volume integral equation. In this paper we apply a weak form of volume integral equation to simulate light scattering by needle- and disk-type particles such as straight and curved cylinders, cylindrical plate and hexagonal prism with high aspect ratio and low and high values of refractive indexes. For problems where discrete sources method could be applied, we calculated differential scattering cross-section using both methods and got excellent agreement in results.     

Light scattering by axisymmetric multilayer particles

A new recursive algorithm for solving the problem of scattering a plane electromagnetic wave by axisymmetric dielectric multilayer particles is constructed. The approach that was proposed earlier and demonstrated for uniform axisymmetric particles is used. It has the following basic features: (1) the fields are represented in the form of a sum of two terms, one of which is independent of the azimuthal angle, whereas averaging of the second term over this angle gives zero; (2) the axisymmetric problem is solved by using the scalar potentials related to the azimuthal components of electromagnetic fields; and (3) the non-axisymmetric problem is solved by using the superposition of Debye potentials and vertical components of the magnetic and electric Hertz vectors. It is of principal importance for the solution proposed here that the scattering problem is formulated in the form of surface integral equations in these scalar potentials, which are represented in the form of expansions in wave spherical functions. Infinite systems of linear algebraic equations for unknown expansion coefficients are obtained, which are rather simple in structure. The reduced systems for multilayer particles have the same dimension as the systems for identical uniform particles. In the case of multilayer spherical particles, the algorithm gives an explicit solution to the problem, and the dependence on the radial spherical functions for the layers is specified in terms of the derivative of the logarithm (i.e., the ratio of the derivative to the function itself) and the ratio of the functions of neighboring layers. Numerical calculations demonstrated the high efficiency of the algorithm.     

Analytical treatment of light extraction from textured surfaces using classical ray optics

Regular periodic textures e.g., microlens arrays, micro-pyramids, and cones on substrate surface have been used to enhance light out-coupling in light emitting devices. Photon randomization, often associated with surface roughening, has been suggested as the mechanism for out-coupling enhancement. This article analytically investigates the ray dynamics in a light emitting device when periodic texture is used as an external out-coupler. An attempt has been made to understand the relationship between enhancement in out-coupling and the surface inclination of these structures using classical ray optics.     

随机取向群聚椭球粒子光散射特性研究

利用离散偶极子近似方法,考虑单元粒子之间的电磁相互作用,数值计算了随机取向的不同尺度参数、不同纵横比的群聚椭球粒子的缪勒矩阵元素,给出了各个缪勒矩阵元素的角分布曲线,探讨了随机取向的群聚椭球粒子的尺度参数、纵横比、基本粒子相对位置对其缪勒矩阵元素的影响。并将随机取向群聚椭球粒子的光散射特性与单个等效球形粒子的数值结果进行了比较。结果表明,随机取向群聚椭球粒子的光散射特性与等效球形粒子的光散射特性存在很大差别,基本粒子的形状越偏离球形,这种差别就越大; 随机取向群聚椭球粒子中椭球粒子的纵横比和相对位置对整个群聚粒子的缪勒矩阵元素存在不同程度的影响,并且此影响随着粒子尺度参数的增大而变得更加显著。     

随机取向群聚椭球粒子光散射特性研究

利用离散偶极子近似方法,考虑单元粒子之间的电磁相互作用,数值计算了随机取向的不同尺度参数、不同纵横比的群聚椭球粒子的缪勒矩阵元素,给出了各个缪勒矩阵元素的角分布曲线,探讨了随机取向的群聚椭球粒子的尺度参数、纵横比、基本粒子相对位置对其缪勒矩阵元素的影响。并将随机取向群聚椭球粒子的光散射特性与单个等效球形粒子的数值结果进行了比较。结果表明,随机取向群聚椭球粒子的光散射特性与等效球形粒子的光散射特性存在很大差别,基本粒子的形状越偏离球形,这种差别就越大; 随机取向群聚椭球粒子中椭球粒子的纵横比和相对位置对整个群聚粒子的缪勒矩阵元素存在不同程度的影响,并且此影响随着粒子尺度参数的增大而变得更加显著。     

Introduction to light scattering by Gaussian random particles

Background, current status, and future prospects are offered for “Light scattering by Gaussian random particles: Ray-optics approximation” [1]. The stochastic geometry of the random particle is called the Gaussian random sphere. The radial distance of the Gaussian sphere is lognormally distributed. Two logarithmic radial distances at a given great-circle angle apart relate to one another according to the covariance function. Sample Gaussian particles can be conveniently generated using a Legendre polynomial expansion for the covariance function and a spherical harmonics expansion for the logarithmic radial distance. The ray-optics approximation consists of the geometric-optics and forward-diffraction parts fully accounting for polarization. It is valid for particles much larger than the wavelength of incident light and with central phase differences much larger than unity. The numerical ray-tracing algorithms are general and, in principle, applicable computationally to arbitrarily shaped non-spherical particles.     

Light scattering by a spherical particle with multiple densely packed inclusions

This paper calculates light scattering by a spherical water particle containing densely packed inclusions at a visible wavelength 0.55 \mum by a combination of ray-tracing and Monte Carlo techniques. While the individual reflection and refraction events at the outer boundary of a sphere particle are considered by a ray-tracing program, the Monte Carlo routine simulates internal scattering processes. The main advantage of this method is that the shape of the particle can be arbitrary, and multiple scattering can be considered in the internal scattering processes. A dense-medium light-scattering theory based on the introduction of the static structure factor is used to calculate the phase function and asymmetry parameters for densely packed inclusions. Numerical results of the single scattering characteristics for a sphere containing multiple densely packed inclusions are given.     

含有密集随机分布内核的椭球粒子光散射特性研究

给出了一种结合射线追踪和蒙特卡罗方法计算含核粒子光散射的方法,内核粒子可以为稀疏分布也可为浓密分布.粒子外边界的反射和折射由射线追踪方法计算,而粒子内部的多次散射过程由蒙特卡罗方法模拟;当内核粒子为浓密随机分布时,其单次散射特性由基于静态结构因子（static structure factor）的浓密介质光散射理论计算.最后讨论了含核椭球粒子模型的单次散射特性. 关键词： 射线追踪技术 蒙特卡洛方法 光散射 椭球粒子     

Light scattering by multilayer axially symmetric particles

An exact solution to the problem of light scattering by multilayer axially symmetric particles is derived and some aspects of its computer-aided implementation are discussed. The main specific features of the solution are (i) separation of the incident, scattered, and internal fields into two parts and special selection of the scalar potentials for each of them; (ii) expansion of the potentials in terms of spherical wave functions; (iii) formulation of the problem in the form of surface integral equations; and (iv) solution of the reduced systems of the linear algebraic equations for the coefficients of the potential expansions. Mathematical justification of the solution is discussed, which is formulated in the recursive and nonrecursive form (for the T-matrix). The developed computer program has shown that the proposed approach makes it possible to consider axially symmetric particles with essentially different internal structures (i.e., with a spherical core, oblate spheroidal shell, or prolate spheroidal intermediate layer). The results of calculations of the optical properties of the multilayer nonspherical particles are presented and discussed.     

Light scattering by groups of spherical particles

Light scattering by groups of spherical particles is considered. It is shown that the structure of the groups and their orientational distribution can be judged from the spectrum and polarization of the scattered light. Syktyvkar State University, 55, Oktyabr'skii Ave., Syktyvkar, 167001, Russia. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 2, pp. 228–231, March–April, 1997.     

Light reflection from finite conductors with a Gaussian random roughness using Kirchhoff and geometric optics approximations

A comparison between exact solutions and two approximate models, Kirchhoff approximation (KA) and geometric optics approximation (GOA), for reflection from random Gaussian rough conductive metallic surfaces for three regimes of correlation length in both cases of polarization TM and TE has been reported. The phenomenon of excitation of surface plasmons (SPs) has been shown only at TM polarization for KA. The domains of validity of both approximate models have been quantified. It is shown that accuracy and efficiency of any approximate method depended of various parameters: surface roughness, polarization, SPs effects, wavelength, and surface materials. KA is efficient for weakly rough surfaces with correlation length greater than wavelength, but when rms height increases GOA is more suitable than KA. Excitation of SPs is observed only at TM-polarized light, only for weakly rough surfaces with correlation length less than wavelength using KA and not GOA.