Application of spheroidal functions in theory of light scattering by nonspherical particles: Separation of variables method

The separation of variables method (SVM), which uses a spheroidal basis, is proposed. According to this method, fields are presented in the form of expansion in terms of spheroidal functions. The previously conducted analysis of various methods using a spherical basis showed that the SVM is applicable in a broader area for numerical calculations, while the proposed approach using a spheroidal basis yields reliable results in the case of spheroids with a high degree of asphericity where other methods and approaches cannot be used. Importantly, the method includes an SVM that uses a spherical basis as the limiting case. Thus, the proposed method has all chances of being highly efficient for calculation of optical characteristics of various nonspherical particles in a wide range of parameters of the formulated problem.     

Light scattering by multilayered axisymmetric particles: Solution of the problem by the separation of variables method

A new solution to the problem of light scattering by multilayered particles possessing axial symmetry is obtained. Two methods are applied for this purpose. One is the separation of variables method with expansion of fields in terms of spherical wave functions, and the other is a novel approach based on the separation of fields into axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric parts and on the choice of specific scalar potentials for each of them. A specific feature of the new solution is that the dimension of truncated linear algebraic systems used for determining unknown expansion coefficients of fields does not increase with an increasing number of layers. Using double-and three-layer spheroidal and Chebyshev particles of different shape and size as examples, the domain of applicability of the solution presented is compared with that of the solution previously obtained by the extended boundary conditions method. Except for nearly spherical particles, the solution presented is shown to be more favorable than the previously obtained solution.     

An ellipsoidal model for small nonspherical particles

We have proposed an ellipsoidal model (ElM) for small nonspherical particles, i.e., we have proposed a method to construct “effective” ellipsoids the light scattering properties of which are similar to those of original particles. It has been shown that the semiaxes of a model ellipsoid should be determined from the requirement of equality of the volumes of particles, as well as of the equality of the ratios of their maximal longitudinal and transverse dimensions. Along with the ElM, the uniform internal field approximation (UFA) has also been considered, which is the first approximation in terms of the rigorous ЕВСМ solution of the electrostatic problem. In order to analyze the applicability of the ElM and UFA approximate approaches, rigorous methods for solving the problem of light scattering have been used, such as the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) and the SVM. The comparison of results of numerical calculations for parallelepipeds, finite circular cylinders and cones, Chebyshev particles and pseudospheroids has shown that the relative errors of calculations of the particle polarizability using ElM approximate formulas do not exceed 1–5%, while, for the absorption and scattering cross sections, they are roughly twice as large, since they depend on the squared polarizability module. As a rule, the ElM is preferable to the uniform field approximation, which is advantageous only in the case of a circular cylinder with close longitudinal and transverse dimensions.     

On optical properties of nonspherical inhomogeneous particles

To solve the problem of light scattering by multilayer scatterers of an arbitrary axisymmetric shape, a separation of variables method that involves special scalar potentials and their expansions in spherical functions is developed. The approach is shown to yield highly exact results even for particles that have 100 layers or more. A graphic library that illustrates the optical properties of layered and homogeneous (with an effective refractive index) spheroids, spheres, and Chebyshev particles of various shapes and sizes (about 650 figures) is created and is put on the Internet. It is noted that the linear polarization of radiation transmitted forward through a polydisperse medium containing partially oriented nonspherical porous particles strongly depends on the structure of scatterers. It is shown that the difference between the degrees of polarization of layered and corresponding homogeneous scatterers can exceed 200–300%.     

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.     

Electromagnetic scattering by nonspherical particles: Recent advances

This note gives a short introduction to the reprint of the article “Numerical methods in electromagnetic scattering theory” by Kahnert, M (JQSRT 2003;79-80:775-824). Some of the most important developments in the field since the publication of this article are briefly reviewed. A list of typos that have been identified in the original article is given in the appendix.     

Electrostatic solution and rayleigh approximation for small nonspherical particles in a spheroidal basis

The electrostatic problem for the case of axially symmetric particles is analyzed in a spheroidal basis. In this case, the wavenumber is zero and Maxwell’s equations are reduced to the Laplace equation for scalar potentials. An alternative approach involves solving integral equations that are similar to those obtained within the framework of the extended boundary conditions method. The scalar potentials are represented as expansions in terms of eigenfunctions of the Laplace equation in a spheroidal frame of reference, and unknown expansion coefficients are determined from an infinite set of linear algebraic equations (the separation of variables method). These two approaches yield exact solutions of the problem in the case of axially symmetric particles, which coincide with known solutions in particular cases. Investigation of infinite systems allowed finding the boundaries where these algorithms are valid. Numerical calculations showed that, for spheroidal Chebyshev particles (i.e., perturbed spheroids), the Rayleigh approximation based on the electrostatic solution is applicable in a wide range of the problem parameters and is in fair agreement with the results obtained using the discrete dipole approximation.     

Modelling self-assembling of colloid particles in multilayered structures

Simulations of particle multilayer build-up in the layer by layer (LbL) self-assembling processes have been performed according to the generalized random sequential adsorption (RSA) scheme. The first (precursor) layer having an arbitrary coverage of adsorption centers was generated using the standard RSA scheme pertinent to homogeneous surface. Formation of the consecutive layers (up to 20) was simulated by assuming short-range interaction potentials for two kinds of particles of equal size. Interaction of two particles of different kind resulted in irreversible and localized adsorption upon their contact, whereas particles of the same kind were assumed to interact via the hard potential (no adsorption possible). Using this algorithm theoretical simulations were performed aimed at determining the particle volume fraction as a function of the distance from the interface, as well as the multilayer film roughness and thickness as a function of the number of layers. The simulations revealed that particle concentration distribution in the film was more uniform for low precursor layer density than for higher density, where well-defined layers of closely packed particles appeared. On the other hand, the roughness of the film was the lowest at the highest precursor layer density. It was also predicted theoretically that for low precursor layer density the film thickness increased with the number of layers in a non-linear way. However, for high precursor layer density, the film thickness increased linearly with the number of layers and the average layer thickness was equal to 1.58 of the particle radius, which is close to the closely packed hexagonal layer thickness equal to 1.73. It was concluded by analysing the existing data for colloid particles and polyelectrolytes that the theoretical results can be effectively exploited for interpretation of the LbL processes involving colloid particles and molecular species like polymers or proteins.     

A note on the heat transfer to nonspherical particles from plasma

Heat transfer from plasma to a nonspherical particle in the free-molecular regime is studied in the present paper under thin plasma sheath condition. Analytical expressions for the floating potential charge and heat fluxes of an ellipsoid particle of revolution are derived and curves are given for hey parameters for arbitrary plasma flow direction. On the basis of these results, an equivalent sphere with the same surface area as the nonspherical particle is suggested to be used for calculating the total heat flux of nonspherical particle in engineering application with acceptable accuracy. Furthermore, the effects of particle rotation, which occurs in most aerosol systems, on the heat transfer are also discussed     

Separation of variables for integrable systems on Poisson manifolds

For an integrable system on Poisson manifolds, a construction of separated variables is discussed. We suppose that, for a given integrable system, we know a realization of the corresponding Lagrangian submanifold as the product of plane curves. In this case, we can use properties of the foliation of the initial Poisson manifold on symplectic leaves and values of the Casimir functions in order to construct separated variables.     

Indistinguishable particles and hidden variables

An axiomatics for the indistinguishability of elementary particles in terms of hidden variables is presented in a manner which depart from the standard approaches usually given to hidden variables. Quantum distribution functions are also discussed and some possible related lines of work are suggested.     

Light-scattering methods for modelling algal particles as a collection of coated and/or nonspherical scatterers

Ocean reflectance or ocean colour measurements are an important tool for oceanographic studies of phytoplankton dynamics. Theoretical models based on homogeneous, spherical particles underestimate algal backscattering and thus reflectance values. It is our understanding that more advanced light-scattering methods must be employed, both for refractive index retrieval (Mie, Aden–Kerker) with inverse models, and for backscattering calculations (Extended Boundary Condition Method, EBCM). The measured optical properties of a monospecific bloom of the marine brown tide pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens are used to compare the effects of assuming various simulated particle geometries. Computational results from polydisperse, coated spherical particles show results that compare better to experimental reflectance values than calculations based on homogeneous spheres. No noticeable change in simulated reflectance values is observed when a randomly oriented coated spheroidal (rather than spherical) geometry is assumed for the particle population. Our results suggest that a layered spherical geometry, based on Aden–Kerker theory, can adequately reproduce experimentally determined light-scattering properties even supposedly shape-sensitive properties such as the backscattering coefficient.     

Calculations of the Mie scattering coefficients for multilayered particles with large size parameters

The calculation procedure for the scattering coefficients appearing in the Mie theory is discussed for a case of multilayered particles with a large size parameter. There are two different aspects to the problem. The first aspect concerns a case where the imaginary part of the size parameters remains small. Shown here is the possibility for avoiding the canonical recommendations which prescribe using both upward and downward recursions for different types of Bessel functions. We have justified the procedure based on the upward recursions only where results are as stable as those in the canonical one. The second aspect concerns the case with a large imaginary part of the size parameter. The calculation procedure for a multilayered particle fails in such a case because of 0/0-type uncertainty. However, this problem can be overcome by using the proper asymptotic relations at crucial points. The numerical results are demonstrated for spherical and cylindrical multilayered particles.     

Anomalous diffraction theory for randomly oriented nonspherical particles: a comparison between original and simplified solutions

The anomalous diffraction theory (ADT) that is originally introduced by van de Hulst (Light scattering by small particles, Wiley, New York, 1957), is often highly simplified so that the extinction and absorption efficiencies of randomly oriented particles are determined by the ratio of particle volume to the projected area. In this work, we compare the simplified ADT and the original one for randomly oriented particles with different shapes. Significant differences are found in both extinction and absorption efficiencies.