Matrix formulations for the transfer of solar radiation in a plane-parallel scattering atmosphere

Matrix formulations are presented for the discrete-ordinate and the matrix-operator methods of solving the transfer of solar radiation in a plane-parallel scattering atmosphere. Eigenspace transformations of symmetric matrices are introduced into the method of Stamnes and Swanson instead of using the decomposition of an asymmetric matrix. The computational stability is considerably improved by this algorithm, especially for single-precision calculations.Representations of the reflection and transmission matrices in the matrix-operator method are also given, in terms of the indicated formulations, by considering a boundary-value problem of the discrete-ordinate method. The solutions of the discrete-ordinate method for inhomogeneous atmospheres are given by combining discrete-ordinate solutions for respective homogeneous sublayers through the addition technique of the matrix-operator method.     

Invariant currents and scattering off locally symmetric potential landscapes

We study the effect of discrete symmetry breaking in inhomogeneous scattering media within the framework of generic wave propagation. Our focus is on one-dimensional scattering potentials exhibiting local symmetries. We find a class of spatially invariant nonlocal currents, emerging when the corresponding generalized potential exhibits symmetries in arbitrary spatial domains. These invariants characterize the wave propagation and provide a spatial mapping of the wave function between any symmetry related domains. This generalizes the Bloch and parity theorems for broken reflection and translational symmetries, respectively. Their nonvanishing values indicate the symmetry breaking, whereas a zero value denotes the restoration of the global symmetry where the well-known forms of the two theorems are recovered. These invariants allow for a systematic treatment of systems with any local symmetry combination, providing a tool for the investigation of the scattering properties of aperiodic but locally symmetric systems. To this aim we express the transfer matrix of a locally symmetric potential unit via the corresponding invariants and derive quantities characterizing the complete scattering device which serve as key elements for the investigation of transmission spectra and particularly of perfect transmission resonances.     

Magnon scattering by a symmetric atomic well in free standing very thin magnetic films

A theoretical model is presented for the study of the scattering of magnons at an extended symmetric atomic well in very thin magnetic films. The thin film consists of three cubic atomic planes with ordered spins coupled by Heisenberg exchange, and the system is supported on a non-magnetic substrate, and considered otherwise free from magnetic interactions. The coherent transmission and reflection scattering coefficients are derived as elements of a Landauer type scattering matrix. Transmission and reflection scattering cross sections are hence calculated specifically, as a function of the varying local magnetic exchange on the inhomogeneous boundary. Detailed numerical results for the individual incident film magnons, and for the calculated overall magnon conductance, show characteristic transmission properties, with associated Fano resonances, depending on the magnetic boundary conditions and on the magnon incidence.     

Radiative transfer through an arbitrarily thick,scattering atmosphere

A method is presented for solving the equation of radiative transfer in a vertically inhomogeneous planetary atmosphere. The method, based on the spherical harmonics expansion, can be used to compute models with an arbitrarily large optical thickness and any scattering phase function. It is extremely efficient, requiring the equivalent of only two matrix multiplications per layer. This efficiency combined with its stability makes the method useful for computing realistic models of planetary atmospheres. To illustrate the range of validity of this method, we compute the plane albedo from model atmospheres containing clouds with optical thicknesses ranging from 0 to 10⁶.     

A fast linearized pseudo-spherical two orders of scattering model to account for polarization in vertically inhomogeneous scattering-absorbing media

We calculate the reflection matrix for the first two orders of scattering in a vertically inhomogeneous, scattering-absorbing medium. We take full account of polarization and perform a complete linearization (analytic differentiation) of the reflection matrix with respect to both the inherent optical properties of the medium and the surface reflection condition. Further, we compute a scalar-vector correction to the total intensity due to the effect of polarization; this correction is also fully linearized. The solar beam attenuation has been computed for a pseudo-spherical atmosphere.Results from the two orders of scattering (2OS) model have been tested against scalar intensities for an inhomogeneous atmosphere, and against Stokes vector results for a homogeneous atmosphere. We have also performed backscatter simulations of reflected sunlight in the O₂A band for a variety of geometries, and compared our results with those from a full vector multiple scattering code. Our results are exact in the center of strong lines and most inaccurate in the continuum, where polarization is least significant. The s- and p-polarized radiances are always computed very accurately. The effect of gas absorption optical depth, solar zenith angle, viewing geometry, surface albedo and wind speed (in the case of ocean glint) on the intensity, polarization and corresponding weighting functions have been investigated. It is shown that the 2OS model provides fast and reliably accurate polarization corrections to the scalar-model radiance and weighting function fields. The model can be implemented in operational retrieval algorithms as an adjunct radiative transfer code to deal with polarization effects.     

Boundary symmetries in linear differential and integral equation problems applied to the self-consistent Green’s function formalism of acoustic and electromagnetic scattering

Explicit symmetry relations for the Green’s function subject to homogeneous boundary conditions are derived for arbitrary linear differential or integral equation problems in which the boundary surface has a set of symmetry elements. For corresponding homogeneous problems subject to inhomogeneous boundary conditions implicit symmetry relations involving the Green’s function are obtained. The usefulness of these symmetry relations is illustrated by means of a recently developed self-consistent Green’s function formalism of electromagnetic and acoustic scattering problems applied to the exterior scattering problem. One obtains explicit symmetry relations for the volume Green’s function, the surface Green’s function, and the interaction operator, and the respective symmetry relations are shown to be equivalent. This allows us to treat boundary symmetries of volume-integral equation methods, boundary-integral equation methods, and the T matrix formulation of acoustic and electromagnetic scattering under a common theoretical framework. By specifying a specific expansion basis the coordinate-free symmetry relations of, e.g., the surface Green’s function can be brought into the form of explicit symmetry relations of its expansion coefficient matrix. For the specific choice of radiating spherical wave functions the approach is illustrated by deriving unitary reducible representations of non-cubic finite point groups in this basis, and by deriving the corresponding explicit symmetry relations of the coefficient matrix. The reducible representations can be reduced by group-theoretical techniques, thus bringing the coefficient matrix into block-diagonal form, which can greatly reduce ill-conditioning problems in numerical applications.     

Direct solution of the radiative transfer equation for plane-parallel atmospheres

A method is described for solving the monochromatic radiative transfer equation for the case of inhomogeneous, plane-parallel scattering and absorbing atmospheres illuminated by external as well as internal sources. The solution procedure, which is based on a series expansion of the radiation intensity with respect to the angular and spatial coordinates, is analytical in nature and can thus be implemented on small computing facilites. Test calculations were performed for isotropic and Rayleigh scattering atmospheres of various optical thicknesses and single scattering albedos. The results coincide well with data from other methods given in the literature.     

Padé approximant in radiative transfer

A functional relation is obtained between radiative transfer in an inhomogeneous medium with internal sources and diffuse reflection. The intensity of the emerging radiation for a linear source is obtained by using the Padé approximation. The single scattering albedo is assumed to decrease exponentially with optical depth. Numerical results are given.     

Symmetry-Protected Scattering in Non-Hermitian Linear Systems

Symmetry plays fundamental role in physics and the nature of symmetry changes in non-Hermitian physics.Here the symmetry-protected scattering in non-Hermitian linear systems is investigated by employing the discrete symmetries that classify the random matrices.The even-parity symmetries impose strict constraints on the scattering coefficients:the time-reversal(C and K) symmetries protect the symmetric transmission or reflection;the pseudo-Hermiticity(Q symmetry) or the inversion(P) symmetry protects the symmetric transmission and reflection.For the inversion-combined time-reversal symmetries,the symmetric features on the transmission and reflection interchange.The odd-parity symmetries including the particle-hole symmetry,chiral symmetry,and sublattice symmetry cannot ensure the scattering to be symmetric.These guiding principles are valid for both Hermitian and non-Hermitian linear systems.Our findings provide fundamental insights into symmetry and scattering ranging from condensed matter physics to quantum physics and optics.     

Anisotropic scattering in inhomogeneous media—1. A new representation formula for the solution of the auxiliary integral equation for the source function

A new representation formula for the solution of the auxiliary integral equation for the source function in inhomogeneous, anisotropically scattering media is presented. It involves two new functions Φ and ψ of two variables instead of the original five variables. This generalizes earlier results of Kagiwada et al. (1969) and Sobolev (1972) applicable to homogeneous atmospheres. The corresponding Bellman-Krein formula for the resolvent kernel is also derived. The present representation for the solution of Fredholm integral equations of second kind with unsymmetric kernels provides a new approach to radiative transfer in anisotropic inhomogeneous media.     

Complex random matrix models with possible applications to spin-impurity scattering in quantum Hall fluids

We study the one-point and two-point Green functions in a complex random matrix model to sub-leading orders in the large-N limit. We take this complex matrix model as a model for the two-state scattering problem, as applied to spin-dependent scattering of impurities in quantum Hall fluids. The density of state shows a singularity at the band center due to reflection symmetry. We also compute the one-point Green function for a generalized situation by putting random matrices on a lattice of arbitrary dimensions.     

Universal statistics of the local Green’s function in wave chaotic systems with absorption

We establish a general relation between the statistics of the local Green’s function for systems with chaotic wave scattering and uniform energy loss (absorption) and the two-point correlator of its resolvents for the same system without absorption. Within the random matrix approach, this kind of a fluctuation dissipation relation allows us to derive the explicit analytic expression for the joint distribution function of the real and imaginary part of the local Green’s function for all symmetry classes as well as at an arbitrary degree of time-reversal symmetry breaking in the system. The outstanding problem of orthogonal symmetry is further reduced to simple quadratures. The results can be applied, in particular, to the experimentally accessible impedance and reflection in a microwave cavity attached to a single-mode antenna.     

Radiation transfer by a finite-emitting inhomogeneous medium

A functional relation is obtained between radiative transfer in an inhomogeneous finite planar layer with an internal energy source and diffuse reflection. The intensity is derived for the emerging radiation of a polynomial energy source. We use Padé approximants to calculate the emitted intensity for a linear energy source when the single scattering albedo decreases exponentially with optical depth. Numerical results are given for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media.     

An efficient diffusion approximation for 3D radiative transfer parameterization: application to cloudy atmospheres

The three-dimensional (3D) diffusion radiative transfer equation, which utilizes a four-term spherical harmonics expansion for the scattering phase function and intensity, has been efficiently solved by using the full multigrid numerical method. This approach can simulate the transfer of solar and thermal infrared radiation in inhomogeneous cloudy conditions with different boundary conditions and sharp boundary discontinuity. The correlated k-distribution method is used in this model for incorporation of the gaseous absorption in multiple-scattering atmospheres for the calculation of broadband fluxes and heating rates in the solar and infrared spectra. Comparison of the results computed from this approach with those computed from plane-parallel and 3D Monte Carlo models shows excellent agreement. This 3D radiative transfer approach is well suited for radiation parameterization involving 3D and inhomogeneous clouds in climate models.     

Study on light scattering by a multilayered infinite cylinder immersed in an absorbing medium

On the basis of the theory of electromagnetic scattering of plane waves by a multilayered cylinder, analytic solutions are developed for single scattering properties of an inhomogeneous cylinder embedded in an absorbing medium with normal incidence, and the rapid recursive algorithm is given. Results show that computations for scattering field in our code are extended to fairly large parameters, up to 10,000 and 10⁶ in number of layers. Some examples are simulated to validate the code, and compared with the published results with good agreement. The variations of the scattering matrix with the scattering angles of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous cylinders are simulated. The results show that the scattering matrix depends closely on the refractive index of the surroundings, and the explanation of the scattering mechanism is given.     

Dynamic properties of a symmetric spin nanocontact

This paper describes a theoretical study, at a microscopic scale, of the properties of a symmetric magnetic nanocontact. In particular, we study a symmetric nanocontact separating two waveguide groups of semi-infinite spin ordered ferromagnetic monatomic chains. The individual and total conductance of bulk magnons of the chains, scattering coherently at the nanocontact, and the localised density of spin states in the nanocontact domain, are calculated and analysed. The inter-atomic magnetic exchange is varied on the nanocontact to investigate the consequences of magnetic softening and hardening for the calculated properties. Transmission and reflection scattering cross sections are calculated from elements of a Landauer type scattering matrix. The results highlight the localized spin states on the nanocontact domain and their interactions with incident magnons. The results demonstrate also the magnetic and symmetry properties of the nanocontact domain.     

Forward Monte Carlo computations of fully polarized microwave radiation in non-isotropic media

A completely forward Monte Carlo radiative transfer code has been developed with biasing techniques to efficiently solve the polarized radiative transfer equation for the full Stokes vector. The code has been adapted to accommodate plane parallel/3-D vertically/horizontally inhomogeneous scattering atmospheres in Cartesian geometries. Particular attention has been paid in stochastically treating the propagation, the emission and the scattering through anisotropic media particularly suited for clouds containing perfectly or partially oriented particles. Our modelling is very appealing because all its biasing techniques do not introduce unphysical Stokes vector. Numerical results and comparisons with benchmark tests are presented for verification.     

Inverse scattering for the one-dimensional Helmholtz equation: fast numerical method

The inverse scattering problem for the one-dimensional Helmholtz wave equation is studied. The equation is reduced to a Fresnel set that describes multiple bulk reflection and is similar to the coupled-wave equations. The inverse scattering problem is equivalent to coupled Gel'fand-Levitan-Marchenko integral equations. In the discrete representation its matrix has T?plitz symmetry, and the fast inner bordering method can be applied for its inversion. Previously the method was developed for the design of fiber Bragg gratings. The testing example of a short Bragg reflector with deep modulation demonstrates the high efficiency of refractive-index reconstruction.     

Scattering Matrix Modeling of Photon Migration in Turbid Media

A lattice random walk model based on walkers wandering on discrete lattice of scattering space by discrete spatial and temporal step is presented. The scattering matrix and linking matrix of the lattice random walk are given for the scattering and absorption processes in homogenous and inhomogeneous turbid media. All the results obey the principle of causality.