Testing a new photocentrifuge for submicron particles with silica spheres

A theory has been developed for spectral photosedimentation in a centrifuge. The use of several wavelengths allows particle size analyses in the submicron range without a knowledge of the optical material properties and is not restricted to spherical particles. As a result of this theory the extinction efficiency and the particle size distribution of the analysed particles can be calculated even for non-spherical particles from an experiment. A photocentrifuge has been built according to the developed theory. The theory has been verified by the measurement of spherical particles for which Mie theory is applicable. The experimentally obtained extinction efficiency agrees well with computations according to Mie theory. The accuracy of measured particle size distributions is comparable to those measured with other sedimentometers.     

Monte Carlo simulation of light scattering from size distributed sub-micron spherical CdS particles in a volume element

Simulation of polarized light scattering by spherical particles having modal radius of 180 nm is presented in this paper. A Monte Carlo method which is based on the Stokes-Mueller formalism developed in ANSI Standard C-language is used for simulation. Single scattering is considered in our program with monodispersed sub-micron sized spherical CdS particles. We have considered only θ dependent scattering as described by Mie theory for spherical CdS particles. The experiments for studying light scattering properties of these particles were conducted in a designed and developed laser based light scattering studies setup. The simulation results were compared with experimental results and theoretical results obtained purely from Mie theory. The closeness of agreement or disagreement between these results is discussed in this paper.     

A generalized multiparticle Mie-solution: further experimental verification

We further test our electromagnetic multisphere-scattering solution developed earlier by comparing theoretical predictions from the theory with a set of laboratory measurements of microwave analog to light scattering by aggregated spheres. This solution is an extension of Mie theory to the multisphere case, generally applicable to an arbitrary aggregate of spherical and/or nonspherical particles. It is demonstrated once again that the theory is in a uniform agreement with experiment, convincingly confirming the veracity of the multiparticle-scattering formulation. The computer code for the calculation of the scattering by an aggregate of spheres in a fixed orientation and the experimental data havebeen made publically available.     

Optical modeling of mineral dust particles: A review

Dust particles are uniquely and irregularly shaped, they can be inhomogeneous, form agglomerates, be composed of anisotropic materials, and have a preferred orientation. As such, modeling their light scattering is very challenging. This review takes a look at the advances in dust optical modeling over the last decade. It is obvious that our ability to model the single-scattering properties of dust particles accurately depends on the size parameter. Unfortunately, our ability to account realistically for all the relevant physical properties in light-scattering modeling is the best for small particles; whereas, the realistic treatment of the particles would be most important for large size parameters. When particles are not much larger than the wavelength, even simple model shapes such as homogeneous spheroids appear to perform well; practically any reasonable shape distribution of non-spherical model particles seems superior compared to the Mie theory. Our ability to model scattering by dust particles much larger than the wavelength is very limited: no method presently exists to predict reliably and accurately the single-scattering properties of such particles, although there are models that can be tuned to agree well with the laboratory-measured reference scattering matrices. The intermediate size parameters between the resonance domain and the geometric-optics domain appear to be almost uncharted territory and, consequently, very little can be said about the impact of different physical properties on scattering in this region. Despite the challenges, the use of Mie theory should be avoided: contrary to the popular belief, the use of Mie spheres is a major source of error even in radiation-budget considerations.     

飞尘气溶胶粒子散射特性分析:对比实验和米散射方法

采用Mie散射理论计算了可见光波段等效球飞尘气溶胶粒子的Stokes散射矩阵,并与实验得到的空间随机取向的非球形飞尘气溶胶粒子结果进行了对比分析;由理论与实验方法得到的散射相函数,采用离散坐标法计算了两者的双向反射函数(BRDF),并对此结果进行了分析研究。结果表明:实验测量的非球形飞尘气溶胶粒子群的散射矩阵和基于球形粒子假设的Mie散射理论计算结果在大多数散射角上都不相同,但是不对称因子却大致相同;球形-非球形粒子群的BRDF随反射角的变化趋势基本一致,但是球形粒子群的BRDF曲线分布具有更大的波动趋势;随着光学厚度的增加,球形-非球形粒子群的BRDF曲线分布均趋于平坦,计算结果趋于一致。因此在飞尘气溶胶粒子散射特性研究中,当光学厚度较小时,用球形假设的方法会造成一定的误差,BRDF相对误差最大可以达到60%,需考虑粒子非球形特性造成的影响;而当光学厚度较大时,BRDF相对误差一般不会超过10%,采用球形假设的方法具有一定的适用性。     

A review of the effects of light scattering on the dynamics of irregularly shaped dust grains in the Solar System

The various aspects of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with cosmic dust particles are discussed. In particular, attention is paid to discrepancies between optical and physical behavior of realistically shaped particles and volume equivalent homogeneous spheres. The dynamical evolution of morphologically non-identical particles which are driven by gravity, electromagnetic radiation and the Lorentz forces can dramatically differ. Although spherical particles often enable analytical calculations, an orbital evolution of spheres cannot be considered as a representative evolution for real cosmic dust particles. The effect of electromagnetic radiation on the motion of dust grains plays a crucial role here. While irregularly shaped interstellar dust particles may be captured in the Solar System, the spherical particles will not survive due to close encounters with the Sun. Spherical grains can be captured almost only in the evaporation region (in the vicinity of the Sun), where they are destroyed due to high temperatures. The spherical dust particles ejected from comets will monotonously inspiral toward the Sun subject to the Poynting-Robertson effect. However, the non-spherical particles of the same origin may be temporarily stabilized at some heliocentric distances and thus their lifetime may be much longer than that for the Mie spheres. Some dust particles may also be captured in mean-motion resonances with planets (commensurability resonances). While spherical particles are always characterized by the secular decrease of the semi-major axes near mean-motion resonances, this may not be true for non-spherical particles. Resonant captures of arbitrarily shaped dust grains exist for exterior and interior mean-motion resonances with planets.     

Linearized T-matrix and Mie scattering computations

We present a new linearization of T-Matrix and Mie computations for light scattering by non-spherical and spherical particles, respectively. In addition to the usual extinction and scattering cross-sections and the scattering matrix outputs, the linearized models will generate analytical derivatives of these optical properties with respect to the real and imaginary parts of the particle refractive index, and (for non-spherical scatterers) with respect to the “shape” parameter (the spheroid aspect ratio, cylinder diameter/height ratio, Chebyshev particle deformation factor). These derivatives are based on the essential linearity of Maxwell's theory. Analytical derivatives are also available for polydisperse particle size distribution parameters such as the mode radius. The T-matrix formulation is based on the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies FORTRAN 77 code developed in the 1990s. The linearized scattering codes presented here are in FORTRAN 90 and will be made publicly available.     

基于平均质量的悬浮颗粒物的质量密度算法

基于米氏(Mie)散射理论得到了粒子计数器测量球形颗粒物质量密度的计算公式。考虑非球形颗粒,从颗粒群粒度分布概念出发,提出了统计意义上的平均质量概念,推导了非球形颗粒物质量密度的理论公式。运用理论公式证明了粒子计数器测量非球形颗粒物质量密度计算公式的合理性,进而给出了基于平均质量的悬浮颗粒物的质量密度算法,该算法只需对两个系数进行标定。实验表明,该算法的质量密度计算值与实际值十分吻合,两者拟合直线的斜率为0.9713,相关系数为0.9998。该算法为实现粒子计数器在线测量悬浮颗粒物的质量密度提供了一种可行途径。     

The comparison between the Mie theory and the Rayleigh approximation to calculate the EM scattering by partially charged sand

The Mie theory and Rayleigh approximation are two basic methods to study the EM scattering of uncharged spherical particle, and when the particle radius is much smaller than the incident wavelength, they are equivalent, but whether the Rayleigh approximation is still equivalent to Mie theory when we use them to calculate the EM scattering of small charged particle, there is still no any report published to discuss this problem. In this paper we make some comparisons between Mie theory and Rayleigh approximation to solve the EM scattering of partially electrification spherical particles. The results showed that the Mie theory would be more suitable to calculate the scattering of charged spherical particles.     

Preliminary results of a non-spherical aerosol method for the retrieval of the atmospheric aerosol optical properties

There is experimental evidence that the non-sphericity of certain atmospheric particles can cause scattering properties different from those predicted by standard Mie theory. Numerous studies indicate the need to consider the presence of non-spherical particles in modeling the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols. On the other hand, natural aerosols show a great variety of shapes, making difficult a realistic choice of a particle shape (or shape mixture) model. In this paper, we test a parameterization of the particle shape in the retrieval of size distribution, phase function, single scattering albedo and asymmetry parameter from direct and sky-radiance measurements. For this purpose we have substituted the Kernel based on the Mie theory included in the model SKYRAD.PACK by one derived for non-spherical particles. The method is applied under different atmospheric conditions, including Saharan dust outbreak, polluted and local mineral episodes. We compare the results with those obtained by the well known spheroids algorithm used in the AERONET network.     

大粒子对高斯波束散射的数值模拟

基于广义米氏理论，精确的求解了球形粒子对高斯波束和平面波的散射，采用Matlab编程， 改进了计算方法，所能够计算的粒子的尺寸参数已突破80000. 给出了平面波与高斯波入射 时，均匀粒子以及镀层粒子的散射分布，比较了吸收粒子和非吸收粒子散射分布. 关键词： 广义米氏理论 高斯波束 光散射 波束因子     

微小颗粒的光散射数值模拟

简单介绍了以经典Mie理论为基础的光散射测量技术在颗粒直径和颗粒浓度测量中广泛的应用。分别以Mie理论和离散偶极子近似理论(DDA)为基础, 用数值计算方法分析了球型颗粒的光散射特性，给出了微小颗粒对平行入射光散射的强度函数和散射偏振度的数值计算方法。得到了强度函数和偏振度随相关物理参量变化的三维图，为微小颗粒散射研究提供了一种三维视图。计算结果表明：当尺度参量x＜4时，2种方法所得结果差异不大；随尺度参量增大，2种方法所得结果出现较大差异。与经典Mie理论相比，由于离散偶极子近似理论可以解决各种形状的颗粒散射问题，其应用前景更广泛。     

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.     

Anomalous diffraction approximation method for retrieval of spherical and spheroidal particle size distributions in total light scattering

Using total light scattering technique to measure the particle size distribution has advantages of simplicity in measurement principle and convenience in the optical arrangement. However, the calculation of extinction efficiency based on Mie theory for a spherical particle is expensive in both time and resources. Thus, a simple but accurate approximation formula for the exact extinction efficiency may be very desirable. The accuracy and limitations of using the anomalous diffraction approximation (ADA) method for calculating the extinction efficiency of a spherical particle are investigated. Meanwhile, the monomodal and bimodal particle size distributions of spherical particles are retrieved using the genetic algorithm in the dependent model. Furthermore, the spheroidal model in the retrieval of non-spherical particle size distribution is also discussed, which verifies the non-sphericity has a significant effect on the retrieval of particle size distribution compared with the assumed homogeneous isotropic sphere. Both numerical computer simulations and experimental results illustrate that the ADA can be successfully applied to retrieve the particle size distributions for spherical and spheroidal particles with high stability even in the presence of random noise. The method has advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and suitability for in-line particle size measurement.     

Geometrical optics approximation for light scattering by absorbing spherical particles

By means of geometrical optics, an approximation method is presented to compute the light scattering intensity of absorbing spherical particles illuminated by a plane wave. For absorbing particles, the effective refractive index and the effective refractive angle are related to the complex refractive index and incident angle. The formulas for calculation of the break of phases of reflection and refraction, which are different from the case of transparent particles, are exactly derived. Verification of the geometrical optics approximation (GOA) was performed by case studies and comparison of the present results with the Mie scattering. It is found that agreement between the GOA and the Mie theory is excellent in forward directions for weakly/moderately absorbing particles. Differently, for strongly absorbing particles, good agreement between the calculation methods is in the forward directions and large scattering angles. The agreement between the GOA and the Mie theory is better for larger particles.     

颗粒分层过程三维离散元法模拟研究

采用软球干接触模型对球形及非球形颗粒的分层过程进行了三维离散元法模拟研究,从颗粒间作用力、转动力矩和能量变化的角度分析了颗粒分层机理,讨论了颗粒的粒度比对分层速度的影响规律.结果表明,分层过程中,大颗粒比小颗粒活跃,非球颗粒由于具有较高的动能而比球颗粒活跃,在一定程度上弥补了颗粒形状对分层过程的影响.大颗粒间的平均法向、切向作用力、平均力矩及平均动能均大于小颗粒.颗粒分层速度随着粒度比的增加而显著增大,当粒度比大于临界粒度比3时,分层速度的增幅减缓.     

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.     

雾霾粒子的紫外光散射特性研究

紫外光与雾霾粒子发生散射后,其散射信道特性能够反映雾霾粒子的相关物理信息,利用无线紫外光单次和多次散射信道模型,采用Mie散射和T矩阵理论分析了霾粒子在不同形态和浓度下的紫外光散射信道特性,以及散射角对散射光强的影响,并完成了紫外光在雾霾环境下的实测。通过理论及仿真分析,得到了不同霾粒子形态下的紫外光通信路径损耗以及光强分布。结果表明：紫外光直视通信方式下,路径损耗随着霾粒子浓度的增大而增大,且通信质量差于晴朗天。非直视通信方式中,在短距离通信时,高霾浓度下的路径损耗小于中低霾浓度,然而随着通信距离的继续增大,高雾霾浓度下的通信质量急剧下降,低霾浓度下通信质量最终达到最优,且距离为200 m时通信质量能优于晴朗环境。当通信距离相同时,三种雾霾浓度下的紫外光散射光强分布均随着散射角的增大而减小,当散射角继续增大并超过90°时,低霾浓度下的散射光强最大。主要原因是虽然散射角继续增大,但是有效散射体体积逐渐减小,因此低霾浓度下的散射光强较大。且当粒子粒径相同时,球形粒子的衰减较非球形粒子大。雾霾环境下实测结果与仿真结果相类似,证明了仿真结果的正确性,并在一定程度上证明了实际大气中雾霾非球形粒子多于球形粒子。     

非球形椭球粒子参数变化对光偏振特性的影响

针对自然界中多数沙尘、烟煤粒子的非球形问题, 在球形粒子偏振特性的基础上, 进一步研究非球形椭球粒子的折射率、有效半径、粒子形状等参数变化对光偏振特性的影响, 采用基于T矩阵的非球形粒子仿真方法, 模拟非偏振光经椭球粒子传输后光的偏振特性及其与球形粒子间的差异, 并以实际沙尘、海洋、烟煤三种气溶胶粒子为例说明结果的正确性. 结果表明: 当折射率实部越小, 虚部越大时, 球形粒子与非球形粒子的偏振差异越不明显; 当粒子有效半径增加时, 球形粒子偏振度的变化比非球形粒子更为明显, 且最大值分别出现在散射角为150°和120°的位置; 当粒子形状不同时, 不同形状椭球及球形粒子的差异在散射角小于60° 时并不明显, 且当椭球粒子纵横比互为倒数时, 两种粒子的偏振特性近似相同. 通过以上分析可知, 在光传输过程中, 椭球粒子多数情况下无法被近似为球形粒子进行计算.     

Mie theory 1908, on the mobile phone 2008

Hundred years ago Gustav Mie published his famous paper on the theory of light scattering by spherical particles. It has been programmed in many programming languages since invention of the computer. Nowadays with the mobile phone becoming an educational tool it would be of interest to port a Mie scattering application to a Java enabled hand set. The objective of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of porting existing Mie software to a hand held device. We will show that the mobile phone can be an advanced programming environment for the Mie theory and we will present some exemplary computational results.