ABSORPTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT RADIATION BY SMALL SPHERICAL PARTICLES: II. SCATTERING OF LIGHT BY SMALL CARBON SPHERES

Abstract

Spheres of carbon for which 2a/λ, the ratio between the diameter of the particle and the incident wave-length, is less than about [Formula: see text] scatter the light uniformly in all directions. The intensity of the scattered radiation for any angle is proportional to the square of the volume of the particle and inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wave-length. As the ratio 2a/λ increases from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] and greater values, the diffused light collects more and more into a main beam that appears as a continuation of the incident ray and that decreases in width as 2a/λ increases. Blue light prevails in the scattered radiation. When the size of the particles is unknown, the intensity, distribution, and polarization of the scattered light give an at least approximate value for the radius.