Mie Scattering

Definition

Mie theory is a general solution for scattering of an electromagnetic wave from a spherical particle having a uniform complex index of refraction (the complex portion describes absorption, whereas the real portion describes scattering by the particle). Mie theory reduces to Rayleigh theory in the limit of small nonabsorbing particles. It is a solution to Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations which is asymptotic to a plane wave at a large distance from the particle. Since Maxwell’s equations are linear, the solution can be built up from more elementary solutions to the equations, and this is how Mie theory proceeds. It furnishes the solution in terms of an infinite sum over spherical Bessel functions.

Overview

Cloud and aerosol particles are scattering objects that are typically not small (~several microns) compared to the wavelelength considered and could be much larger, as is the case e.g., for visible light scattering from water or ice cloudson Earth. Although liquid...