Propagation Through an Assembly of Nonspherical Scatterers

Abstract

In this chapter, we study the propagation of electromagnetic waves through a nonhomogeneous medium composed of a dispersion of nonspherical particles within an otherwise homogeneous isotropic matrix. Our purpose is to relate the scattering features of the individual particles to the macroscopic optical properties of the medium as a whole. In particular we will consider how the propagation depends on the polarization of the field and derive a number of relations and develop a notation that will prove useful later. All the relations we will deal with can be established in general terms under conditions that are met by several media of interest, such as atmospheric aerosols and the interstellar medium.