T-Matrix light scattering simulation of rough, non-symmetrical spherical particles

Light scattering is an useful tool for the detection and characterization of different types of particles and simulation of the scattering process can help to understand the scattering characteristics. To simplify the computational simulation often axis-symmetric particles are used, while in reality particles usually do not show such simple structures. To cope with this, advanced methods and algorithms are needed. In this paper we investigate the scattering characteristics by spherical particles with a rough surface, which therefore are non-symmetrical. The light scattering diagrams by these complex structured particles are computed using the nullfield method with discrete sources. The particle shape data is generated by computational methods; here we use the concept of Gardner Series to create spherical particles with a rough surface. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.