An Explicit Form of the Mie Phase Matrix for Multiple Scattering Calculations in the I, Q, U and V Representation

Abstract

An explicit expression is obtained for the phase matrix in the I, Q, U and V Stokes vector representation for a system containing a polydispersion of spherical particles. All of the symmetry relations derived by Hovenier using general arguments are established explicitly. Convenient algorithms are given for the computation of the phase matrix for a spherical polydispersion. Since this theory is so vitally important in radiative transfer, many researchers will need to compute these functions for realistic aerosol distributions. We have therefore presented results for a haze L distribution so that other researchers will have a way of checking their programs which compute these quantities.