Statistic Vectorial Complex Ray Model and its Application to Three-Dimension Scattering of a Non-spherical Particle

Abstract

A Statistic Vectorial Complex Ray Model (SVCRM) is proposed for the scattering of a plane wave by a non-spherical dielectric particle in three dimensions. This method counts the complex amplitudes of all rays arriving in a tiny box in the observation direction. It avoids the two-dimensional interpolation necessary in the Vectorial Complex Ray Model (VCRM) for the calculation of the total field. So, it is more flexible and suitable to deal with the particle of complex shape. The algorithm has been carefully designed for the calculation of the phases due to the optical path, the reflection and the focal lines/points as well as the amplitude variation caused by the reflection, the refraction and the divergence of the wave on the particle surface. This model is then applied, as an example, to simulate the three-dimensional scattering patterns of a pendent drop. The scattering mechanism is analyzed in details and the special attention has been paid to the scattering patterns around the rainbow angles where the caustics occur. The simulated results have been compared to the experimental results for a pendent drop of two typical sizes and shapes. It is shown that the simulated and the experimental results are in good agreement. This method opens a promising potential in the development of optical measurement techniques in fluid mechanics.