Generalized eikonal approximation for fast retrieval of particle size distribution in spectral extinction technique

In retrieving particle size distribution from spectral extinction data, a critical issue is the calculation of extinction efficiency, which affects the accuracy and rapidity of the whole retrieval. The generalized eikonal approximation (GEA) method, used as an alternative to the rigorous Mie theory, is introduced for retrieval of the unparameterized shape-independent particle size distribution (PSD). To compute the extinction efficiency more efficiently, the combination of GEA method and Mie theory is adopted in this paper, which not only extends the applicable range of the approximation method but also improves the speed of the whole retrieval. Within the framework of the combined approximation method, the accuracy and limitations of the retrieval are investigated. Moreover, the retrieval time and memory requirement are also discussed. Both simulations and experimental results show that the combined approximation method can be successfully applied to retrieval of PSD when the refractive index is within the validity range. The retrieval results we present demonstrate the high reliability and stability of the method. By using this method, we find the complexity and computation time of the retrieval are significantly reduced and the memory resources can also be saved effectively, thus making this method more suitable for online particle sizing.