Polarized light scattered from monodisperse randomly oriented nonspherical aerosol particles: measurements

Abstract

Measurements of polarized light scattered from monodisperse nonspherical randomly oriented aerosol particles are presented along with Mie theoretical results for spheres of approximately the same cross sectional area. For slightly nonspherical particles of sodium chloride and potassium sulfate with size parameter (defined as the ratio of the particle circumference to the wavelength) greater than about five, the intensity of light scattered is generally more than as predicted by Mie theory in the forward scattering lobe, but less at nonforward angles. For particles with size parameter less than five, the Mie results more closely match the measurements. Measured angular scattering patterns for randomly oriented particles are smoother than the Mie theoretical results and are nearly the same for salt and potassium sulfate particles of the same size. Measurements of particle depolarization are nearly independent of scattering angle.