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Mie theory: Introduction |
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Mie theory (Mie G 1908) is an analytical solution to the Maxwell vector wave equations (for example, Hecht E 1987) for light scattering by a homogeneous sphere in an infinite medium illuminated by a plane electromagnetic wave. Mie theory is discussed at length in several textbooks, including those by Bohren CF and Huffman 1983, van de Hulst HC 1981, Born M and Wolf 1980, Liou KN 1977, and Kerker M 1969.
In its original formulation, Mie theory allows for absorption of light by the sphere material, i.e. for the refractive index of the sphere material to be complex. However, the surrounding medium must have a real refractive index. See, for example, Fu Q and Sun 2001 and Fu Q and Sun 2006 for an extension of Mie theory to include the case of a surrounding medium that absorbs light.
It is interesting to note that the first extensive experimental verification of Mie theory "in minute detail" was reported nearly 40 years following the publication of the Mie paper (La Mer VK and Barnes 1946, Barnes MD and La Mer 1946, Johnson I and La Mer 1947, Barnes MD et al 1947). This delay can probably be attributed to difficulties in preparing stable dispersions with a sufficiently narrow size distribution. A successful solution of that problem by La Mer and colleagues (for example, La Mer VK and Dinegar 1950, La Mer VK and Barnes 1946) enabled them to measure high-resolution wavelength spectra of light attenuation by quasi-monodisperse colloidal suspensions. Single-particle measurements would have probably been better suited for the verification of Mie theory but (1) the first photoelectric instrument, according to Kerker M 1997, developed at about that time for measuring light scattering by a single-particle (Gucker et al 1947) was not suitable for such a verification and (2) the extent to which calculations required by Mie theory could be performed at the time was quite limited. In fact, it is perhaps the vast improvement in the computing power due to the advent of computers that made possible the prediction and subsequent verification of some consequences of Mie theory, such as the existence of optical resonances, only 70 years after the Mie paper was published.
| CITATION: Jonasz M. 2006. Mie theory: Introduction (www.tpdsci.com/Tpc/MieTheIntro.php). In: Top. Part. Disp. Sci. (www.tpdsci.com). |
HISTORY: Published: 03-Mar-2006 Modified: 19-Apr-2006 Peer-reviewed: PENDING |
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