Near-critical-angle scattering for the characterization of clouds of bubbles: particular effects.

We report experimental investigations on the influence of various optical effects on the far-field scattering pattern produced by a cloud of optical bubbles near the critical scattering angle. Among the effects considered, there is the change of the relative refractive index of the bubbles (gas bubbles or some liquid-liquid droplets), the influence of intensity gradients induced by the laser beam intensity profile and by the spatial filtering of the collection optics, the coherent and multiple scattering effects occurring for densely packed bubbles, and the tilt angle of spheroidal optical bubbles. The results obtained herein are thought to be fundamental for the development of future works to model these effects and for the extension of the range of applicability of an inverse technique (referenced herein as the critical angle refractometry and sizing technique), which is used to determine the size distribution and composition of bubbly flows.

Theoretical prediction of radiation pressure force exerted on a spheroid by an arbitrarily shaped beam.

A rigorous theory is developed to predict the radiation pressure force (RPF) exerted on a spheroid by an arbitrarily oriented and located shaped beam. Analytical expressions of RPF are derived for a homogeneous spheroid, which can be prolate or oblate, transparent or absorbing. Exemplifying calculations are performed and RPF calculations for spheroids are compared to RPF calculations for spheres.

Generalized Lorenz-Mie theory for an arbitrarily oriented, located, and shaped beam scattered by a homogeneous spheroid.

The theory of an arbitrarily oriented, shaped, and located beam scattered by a homogeneous spheroid is developed within the framework of the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT). The incident beam is expanded in terms of the spheroidal vector wave functions and described by a set of beam shape coefficients (G(m)(n),(TM),G(m)(n),(TE)). Analytical expressions of the far-field scattering and extinction cross sections are derived.

Expansion of an arbitrarily oriented, located, and shaped beam in spheroidal coordinates.

Within the framework of the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT), the incident shaped beam of an arbitrary orientation and location is expanded in terms of the spheroidal vector wave functions in given spheroidal coordinates. The beam shape coefficients (BSCs) in spheroidal coordinates are computed by the quadrature method. The classical localization approximation method for BSC evaluation is found to be inapplicable when the Cartesian coordinates of the beam and the particle are not parallel to each other.

Geometrical-optics approximation of forward scattering by coated particles.

By means of geometrical optics we present an approximation algorithm with which to accelerate the computation of scattering intensity distribution within a forward angular range (0 degrees-60 degrees) for coated particles illuminated by a collimated incident beam. Phases of emerging rays are exactly calculated to improve the approximation precision. This method proves effective for transparent and tiny absorbent particles with size parameters larger than 75 but fails to give good approximation results at scattering angles at which refractive rays are absent.