Calibration of the relationship between the scattering angle and the CCD pixel is a key part of achieving accurate measurements of rainbow refractometry. A novel self-calibrated global rainbow refractometry system based on illumination by two lasers of different wavelengths is proposed. The angular calibration and refractive index measurement of two wavelengths can be completed simultaneously without extra measurement devices. The numerical and experimental results show the feasibility and high precision of the self-calibration method, which enables the rainbow refractometry to be implemented in a more powerful and convenient way. The self-calibrated rainbow system is successfully applied to measure the refractive indices of ethanol-water solutions with volume concentrations of 10% to 60%.

The Brillouin gain properties in a double-clad As2Se3 photonic crystal fiber (PCF) are simulated based on the finite-element method (FEM). The results indicate that the Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) of our proposed chalcogenide PCF exhibits a multipeaked behavior and has a high Brillouin gain coefficient. We also find that a larger size of inner cladding air holes will lead to a more pronounced second peak in the BGS. On the other hand, the size of the outer cladding has nearly no effect on the BGS behavior. Through these results, one can tailor the Stimulated Brillouin scattering effect in PCFs for a wide range of applications.

The scattering properties of ZnO nanospheres with four different particle diameters of 10, 50, 100, and 200 nm suspended in water are investigated theoretical and experimentally in the spectral range of the entire visible range and part of the near-infrared region. The scattering properties of ZnO nanospheres suspended in water are described by employing three main parameters: the angular distribution of the scattering intensity I, the scattering extinction coefficient αscat, and the scattering cross section σscat. The results indicate that (i) at a certain wavelength, the angular distribution of the scattering intensity appears as an obviously forward-propagating feature, and the forward-scattering intensity is dominant gradually when the particle diameter increases from 10 to 200 nm, and (ii) the scattering extinction coefficient and cross section can be determined by using the measured transmittance changes of a pure water sample and a given ZnO sample; they all are shown to be dependent on the particle size and incident wavelength. The experimental results of four different scattering samples agree well with the theoretical predictions within the given wavelength range.

In order to improve the inversion precision of aerosol mass concentrations based on the particle group light scattering method, the concept that particles through a laser beam are equivalent to an aggregate is proposed. A fractal model for aerosol mass concentration using the signal amplitude distribution of aggregates is presented, and then the subsection calibration method is given. The experimental results show that the mass concentrations inversed by this model agree well with those measured by the norm-referenced instrument. The average relative errors of the two experiments are 5.6% and 6.0%, respectively, which are less than those obtained by the conventional inversion model.

A method of chromatic polarization imaging is presented for the online detection of colorless plastic contaminants from ginned cotton in an industrial setting. To understand the experimental results, we consider a realistic microscopic model, including the multiple scattering of anisotropic fibers and the light propagation in anisotropic slabs. A Monte Carlo code, based on the extended Jones matrix, is developed to simulate photon migration with polarization states, and phase information followed. Using simulations and experiments, we analyze the underlying mechanisms and evaluate the performance of this method with different layer thicknesses. Our approaches proposed in this Letter also have the potential to be applied in tissue imaging, remote sensing, and other scenarios.

The far-zone scattered spectral density of a light wave on the scattering from a collection of particles is investigated, and the relationship between the character of the collection and the distribution of the scattered spectral density is discussed. It is shown that both the number of particles and their locations in the collection play roles in the distribution of the far-zone scattered spectral density. This phenomenon may provide a potential method to reconstruct the structure character of a collection of particles from measurements of the far-zone scattered spectral density.

In inertial confinement fusion, the laser–plasma interaction (LPI) happens when the high-energy laser irradi-ates on the target where the scattered light share generated from the stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) effect is difficult to suppress. We propose a method using fence pulses (FPs) to suppress the backward SRS by inhibiting the growth of the intensity of electron plasma waves. Based on our simulation, the FPs can weaken SRS effect in the LPI effectively.

A new criterion for target detection and identification is proposed to realize metal/dielectric identification and recognition based on Mueller matrix analysis. By using randomly rough surfaces as targets, numerical calculations are used to prove the robustness and accuracy of the criterion. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to successfully explain the criterion by theoretical analysis. We believe the work provides an important reference for polarization imaging in laser radar and remote sensing, and so on.

The stray radiation suppression in Cassegrain family optical system is presented. The design method for ultra-short outer baffle with honeycomb structure is proposed. Meanwhile the constraint formulas for designing the geometries of primary baffle and secondary baffle are deduced when basing the characteristic and taking vignette into account. According to the ray trace simulated data, the point source transmittance values of the baffle are less than 10-10 when incident angles are larger than the rejection angle. The honeycomb-look front baffle guarantees a comparable performance of stray light suppression with traditional tube baffle, while reducing the size greatly.

The spectrum of an electromagnetic light wave on scattering from a semisoft boundary medium is discussed within the accuracy of the first-order Born approximation. It is shown that spectral shifts and spectral switches are affected both by the polarization of the incident light wave and by the characters of the scattering medium. Moreover, numerical results show that the direction at which the spectral switch occurs is governed by the characters of the scattering medium, whereas the magnitude of the spectral switch is affected by the polarization of the incident light wave.

Small particle light scattering can produce light with polarization characteristics different from those of the incident beam. An analytical solution to the scattering by a spheroid with inclusion for an on-axis polarized Gaussian beam incidence is provided within the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory framework. The shapes of the inclusion can be spherical, confocal spheroid, or non-confocal spheroid. The Muller scattering matrix elements are computed for plane wave incidence or Gaussian light beam incidence. The effect of the size and shape of the inclusion or the coating on the polarized Gaussian light scattering characteristics by a spheroidal water coating aerosol particle are computed and analyzed.

We present a method by which to determine the bulk viscosity of water from pulse duration measurements of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Beginning from a common model of Brillouin scattering, the bulk viscosity is shown to play an important role in Brillouin linewidth determination. Pulse durations of SBS back-reflected optical pulses are measured over the temperature range of 5–40 oC. SBS linewidths are determined via Fourier transformation of the time-domain results, and the bulk viscosity of water is measured and derived from the obtained values. Our results show that the proposed method for measurement of pulse durations is an effective approach for determining bulk viscosity. The method can be easily extended to determine bulk viscosities of other Newtonian liquids.

The ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm based on the probability density function is applied for the retrieval of spherical particle size distribution (PSD). The spectral extinction data based on the Mie theory and the Lambert–Beer Law served as input for estimating five commonly use monomodal PSDs, i.e., Rosin–Rammer distribution, normal distribution, logarithmic normal distribution, modified beta distribution, and Johnson's SB distribution. The retrieval results show that the ACO algorithm has high feasibility and reliability, thus providing a new method for the retrieval of PSD.

A novel method to measure droplet size and complex refractive index simultaneously by rainbow detecting is presented. A new mathematic model for rainbow pattern of absorbing droplet is built. Based on this model, a series of new formulas to measure droplet imaginary part of refractive index is derived. Then a new inverse algorithm for simultaneously measure droplet size and the complex refractive index is presented, which is verified by simulation experiments under different conditions.

The discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method is used to calculate the scattering matrix elements and optical cross-sections for a wide variety of complex soot aggregates in random orientation at a visible wavelength of 0.628 \mu m. The effects of the material composition and the size of the larger particle that is in touch with soot cluster on scattering and radiative properties of complex soot aggregates are analyzed. It is shown that the material composition and the size of the larger particle can strongly influence or even dominate the overall scattering and radiative properties of the aggregates.

Using the time-dependent theory, we calculate the random-laser emission spectra in a two-dimensional strongly disordered medium. The calculation results show that in low dimensional systems, such as thinfilm disordered media and planar waveguides, the larger the difference of the refractive indices between the scattering and background media, the smaller the lasing threshold. We also reveal the existence of multimode survival and mode competition. We experimentally obtain the emission spectra of a dye solution with Al particles doped at different pumping energies, and the experimental results agree well with the calculated ones.

A practicable experimental method for measuring scattering on rough surfaces is reported. The scattered patterns are captured on a screen composed of two pieces of ground glass and then imaged using a charge-coupled device. The scattered intensity profiles are extracted by converting the patterns in real space into the wave vector space. Isotropic and anisotropic samples of the rough backsides of silicon wafer are investigated respectively, and their intensity profiles are measured. The profiles of the anisotropic sample are obtained by reading the pixels on the specific orientation curves. The parameters of the samples are extracted using angle-resolved light-scattering schemes and theories. The results well agree with measurements obtained using an atomic force microscope.

The coupling between the Monte Carlo (MC) method and geometrical optics to improve accuracy is investigated. The results obtained show improved agreement with previous experimental data, demonstrating that the MC method, when coupled with simple geometrical optics, can simulate multiple scattering with enhanced fidelity.

A method of clarifying bioaerosol particles is proposed based on T-matrix. Size and shape characterizations are simultaneously acquired for individual bioaerosol particles by analyzing the spatial distribution of scattered light. The particle size can be determined according to the scattering intensity, while shape information can be obtained through asymmetry factor (AF). The azimuthal distribution of the scattered light for spherical particles is symmetrical, whereas it is asymmetrical for non-spherical ones, and the asymmetry becomes intense with increasing asphericity. The calculated results denote that the 5o–10o scattering angle is an effective range to classify the bioaerosol particles that we are concerned of. The method is very useful in real-time environmental monitoring of particle sizes and shapes.

The single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) in an aqueous environment under non-resonance conditions are studied. Series of spectra are recorded in timemapping mode, and intensity fluctuations of SERS signals and spectral diffusion are observed. The correlations between the presence frequency of SERS spectra and number of hot spots as well as the quantity of molecules in scattering volume are examined thoroughly. The results indicate that only molecules located at hot spots produce good signal-to-noise ratio Raman spectra and the origin of fluctuating SERS signals are mainly ascribed to the movement of hot spots.

Dielectric microspheres can confine light in a three-dimensional (3D) region called photonic nanojet is shown when they are illuminated by different polarized beams. The influence of incident light polarization on photonic nanojet using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is demostrated. The axial field intensity profiles of photonic nanojets for both the linear and circular polarization incident beams are very similar. Azimuthal polarization incident beam induces a doughnut beam along the optical axis, while the radial polarization incident beam permits one to reach an effective volume as small as 0.7(\lambda/n)3.

Optical transmission at 532 nm from nonabsorbing disordered porous silicon dioxide has been studied experimentally. The transmission behaviors can be adjusted by filling the pores with liquids of different refractive indics, which are analyzed based on the theory of diffusion in a weak scattering regime. In our experiment, the transmission coefficient changes from a value less than 1% to one that is greater than 75%, that is, the opaque sample becomes transparent, which means that the transport mean free path of light within the material has been effectively adjusted. In addition, this method is a useful nondestructive method to derive the refractive index of an unknown bulk porous material.

Forward-scattering efficiency (FSE) is first proposed when an Ag nanoparticle serves as the light-trapping structure for thin-film (TF) solar cells because the Ag nanoparticle’s light-trapping efficiency lies on the light-scattering direction of metal nanoparticles. Based on FSE analysis of Ag nanoparticles with radii of 53 and 88 nm, the forward-scattering spectra and light-trapping efficiencies are calculated. The contributions of dipole and quadrupole modes to light-trapping effect are also analyzed quantitatively. When the surface coverage of Ag nanoparticles is 5%, light-trapping efficiencies are 15.5% and 32.3%, respectively, for 53- and 88-nm Ag nanoparticles. Results indicate that the plasmon quadrupole mode resonance of Ag nanoparticles could further enhance the light-trapping effect for TF solar cells.

Retrieving snow surface reflectance is difficult in optical remote sensing. Hence, this letter evaluates five surface reflectance models, including the Ross-Li, Roujean, Walthall, modified Rahman and Staylor models, in terms of their capacities to capture snow reflectance signatures using ground measurements in Antarctica. The biases of all the models are less than 0.0003 in both visible and near-infrared regions. Moreover, with the exception of the Staylor model, all models have root-mean-square errors of around 0.02, indicating that they can simulate the reflectance magnitude well. The R2 performances of the Ross-Li and Roujean models are higher than those of the others, indicating that these two models can capture the angle distribution of snow surface reflectance better.

Based on the Kirchhoff approximation for rough surface scattering and by calculating the shadowing function of the rough surface, the formula of the scattering cross section of the dielectric rough surface is presented with consideration of the shadowing effect for the optical wave incidence. It is obtained that in comparison with the conventional Kirchhoff solution, the shadowing effect should not be neglected for the optical wave scattering from the rough surface. The influence of the shadowing effect for different incidence angle, surface root mean square slope, and surface roughness on the scatteringcross section is discussed in detail.