Light Scattering and Absorption by Particles: The Q-space approach(IOP ebooks)

How electromagnetic radiation such as light is scattered or absorbed by media is used in many fields as it can provide information on the size, shape, number, and dynamics of particles or objects. It is key to fields as diverse as physical chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, microbiology, astronomy, atmospheric sciences and radar. This is not purely an academic concern, most aerosol mass in the atmosphere, including entrained mineral dust, volcanic ash, and soot consists of particles with irregular shapes and the way they scatter and absorb light has implications for many climate models. One new approach considers the scattering in reciprocal or Q-space. Q-space analysis has been used extensively in the fields of small angle x-ray and neutron scattering but developments in scattering, in general, and light scattering in particular, are relatively recent. This book provides a thorough overview of how particles of any size or shape scatter and absorb light. Its conceptual basis is unique and founded on the fact that light is first and foremost a wave and then also an electromagnetic wave. Thus the wave phenomenon of diffraction underlies all scattering, and the electromagnetic character of light causes the scattering to evolve away, in a systematic manner, from the diffraction limit. The mathematics of diffraction is the Fourier transform which links real space to reciprocal space, which we call Q-space. The Fourier variable q is related to the scattering angle in experiments so that with our Q-space perspective, we plot scattering data versus q, rather than the angle. This modest change allows hitherto unseen patterns and functionalities in scattering that unifies scattering of all shapes. Key features An accessible introduction to a coherent physical description of scattering Emphasis on interpretation and applications Written by a pioneering researcher in the subject Self-contained includes relevant background physics and maths A fresh, novel way to view the scattering of light by particles

Table of Contents:
1 Waves 2 Introduction to Scattering and Absorption 3 Polarization 4 The Structure Factor 5 The Scaling Approach to the Structure Factor 6 Rayleigh Scattering 7 Light Scattering and Absorption by Spherical Particles 8 Q-Space Analysis of Light Scattering by Spherical Particles 9 Light Scattering and Absorption by Fractal Aggregates 10 Light Scattering and Absorption by Particles of Any Shape A. The Dirac Delta Function B. Aggregation C. A theory for DLCA Fractal Aggregate Morphology D. The Radius of Gyration

About the Author :
Christopher Sorensen was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1969. He was drafted and served in Vietnam in military intelligence. He earned his PhD in physics in 1977 from the University of Colorado. He joined the physics department at Kansas State University in 1977 as an assistant professor of physics; he was promoted to associate professor in 1982 and professor in 1986. He was named a university distinguished professor in 2000 and the Cortelyou-Rust University Distinguished Professor in 2009. He is also a University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Kansas State University. He also is an adjunct professor in the department of chemistry at Kansas State University. He was named the Carnegie Foundation and Council for Advancement and Support of Education United States Professor of the Year for doctoral and research universities in 2007. His research interests include materials synthesis including graphene materials, light scattering, particulate systems, and soft matter physics. He is the author of more than 300 papers and holds seven patents including a method for graphene synthesis. He has directed the research of 20 master's recipients, 21 doctorate recipients, and 11 postdoctoral students. In 2007-2008 he served as president of the American Association for Aerosol Research. He is a fellow of the American Association for Aerosol Research, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Physical Society. He performs extensive outreach activities.

Review :
This book gives a good presentation of the subject areas related to the scattering and absorption of light by particles of arbitrary sizes, shapes and refraction indices. While earlier books have been published in this research field, the author has written this monograph from the viewpoint of diffraction phenomena. This is clearly relevant, since diffraction can be altered when the electromagnetic aspect of light interacts electromagnetically with the object, depending on the strength of the interaction. This book is well written and is a substantial addition to the literature. The target audience for this text is clearly graduate students in optics and photonics, but anyone concerned with light scattering will profit from reading this book. Christian Brosseau, Optica, February 2023