Abstract

The T-matrix method is shown to be an efficient and accurate procedure for calculating the scattering matrix for randomly oriented nonspherical particles. Calculated scattering matrix elements for spheroidal particles are identical to those obtained by the spheroidal harmonic approach. T-matrix calculations for a randomly oriented finite length cylinder agree well with microwave scattering measurements. Analysis of the information content of the angular variation of the matrix elements for a set of moderately sized absorbing spheroidal particles is presented. It is found that the Fourier spectrum of the phase function and a parameter related to the depolarization ratio contain particle size and shape information, respectively.

© 1985 Optical Society of America

Light scattering by randomly oriented spheroidal particles

Shoji Asano and Makoto Sato
Appl. Opt. 19(6) 962-974 (1980)

Light scattering by polydispersions of randomly oriented spheroids with sizes comparable to wavelengths of observation

Michael I. Mishchenko and Larry D. Travis
Appl. Opt. 33(30) 7206-7225 (1994)

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by spheroidal particles: a novel approach exploiting the T matrix computed in spheroidal coordinates

F. Michael Schulz, Knut Stamnes, and Jakob J. Stamnes
Appl. Opt. 37(33) 7875-7896 (1998)

Light scattering properties of spheroidal particles

Shoji Asano
Appl. Opt. 18(5) 712-723 (1979)

Light scattering by size–shape distributions of randomly oriented axially symmetric particles of a size comparable to a wavelength

Michael I. Mishchenko
Appl. Opt. 32(24) 4652-4666 (1993)