Interpretation of elastic light scattering data in real space: II. Nonspherical and inhomogeneous monodisperse systems

Abstract

The approximative computation of the distance distribution function p( r) is possible for light scattering data from nonspherical particles in the ranges 1.0 ≤ m ≤ 1.3 and 2.0 ≤ α ≤ 12.0. This is shown for simulated light scattering data from prolate and oblate ellipsoids. The Mie effect depends on the refractive index ratio m and on the largest three-dimensional volume element; i.e., in the case of a prolate ellipsoid, the effect is not controlled by the length of the major semiaxis but by the size of the maximum cross section defined by the minor semiaxis. Any deviation from spherical symmetry decreases the Mie effect. The quality of the p( r) functions calculated from light scattering data allows the classification of structures of suspended homogeneous, monodisperse particles. The internal structure (radial polarization density profile) of inhomogeneous particles can be computed with a convolution square root technique, if the particles are close to spherical symmetry.