Study of interactive scattering by clusters of spheres

Abstract

A compact extended Mie solution to electromagnetic scattering from a cluster of spheres is obtained through indirect mode matching. Our interest is focused on interactions among member spheres, as manifested in multiple scattering from the cluster. We therefore define and investigate the interactive-backscattering cross section of the cluster and the interaction length of member spheres. Numerical results are presented to probe the effect of sphere spacing as well as the effect of look direction and incident polarization on interactive backscattering from silicate clusters. Moreover, we present a brief extinction and absorption study of a soot particle near a cloud droplet.