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On stochastic models of light absorption

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Abstract

Previously developed light absorption models have treated the effective quantity of light-absorbing material within the experimental environment as a constant, i.e. a parameter. These models are, however, probabilistic in nature and are properly applied and interpreted only in a statistical sense. Thus, it is clearly logical to regard the effective quantity of light-absorbing material to be a random variable. In this paper an asymptotic distribution is derived for this random quantity, and it is shown how this distribution may be incorporated into present models. These results may be applied to light absorption by plant and crop canopies as well as to liquid or solid media. Furthermore, previous models are based upon the assumption that light is parallel, or effectively so, as for solar light. Such models may be inadequate for an artificial (laboratory) environment which utilizes point source light. Present models for estimating light interception and radiation intensity are modified so as to accommodate a proximate point source of light. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    J. E. Mann

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  1. J. E. Mann
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Mann, J.E. On stochastic models of light absorption. Bltn Mathcal Biology 45, 229–237 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462358

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462358

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