Forward scattering light of droplets containing different size inclusions

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Materials Science
• Physics

Background:

• Light scattering from heterogeneous particles is crucial in atmospheric and materials science.
• Understanding the optical properties of complex internal structures within droplets is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the forward light scattering properties of water droplets containing multiple, differently sized carbon inclusions.
• To analyze the influence of Apollonian packing and fractal geometry of inclusions on scattering phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to calculate light scattering.
• Modeled carbon inclusions distributed according to Apollonian packing within a water droplet.
• Calculated the fractal dimension of the interstitial space.

Main Results:

• The amplitude of intensity fluctuations was found to be independent of the fractal dimension.
• Carbon inclusions primarily reduced the y-component of the electric field intensity.
• Far-field light intensity approached that of a single carbon inclusion as inter-inclusion spacing decreased.
• Transmissibility showed a minimum at a 30-degree polarization angle and was equal at 0 and 90 degrees.

Conclusions:

• The fractal nature of inclusion distribution influences light scattering patterns in complex ways.
• Polarization direction significantly impacts the transmissibility of light through the droplet.
• The study provides insights into light-matter interactions within structured microparticles.