Numerical simulation of light backscattering by spheres with off-center inclusion. Application to the lidar case

A Mie backscattering model for spherical particles with off-center inclusion has been developed and tested. The program is capable of dealing with size parameter values up to approximately 1000, thus allowing one to simulate the optical behavior of a large variety of atmospheric aerosols, as well as cloud and precipitation particles. On the basis of this model, we simulated the optical properties of polydisperse composite atmospheric particles as observed by ground-based and airborne lidar systems. We have characterized optical properties in terms of host and inclusion radii, considering water particles with different composition inclusions. The performed modeling provides some insight into the so-called lidar bright- and dark-band phenomenon.