Selected experimental methods for determining droplet parameters from the intensity distribution of scattered light: A review

Abstract

AbstractThe present paper summarizes some experimental methods, which have been developed using the results of calculations based on the theory of Gustav Mie. As examples two regions of the scattered light are considered in more detail. The intensity distribution in the forward hemisphere for scattering angles 30 ≤ θ ≤ 60 shows maxima, which can be identified as regular fringes on a screen. The spacing between the fringes is a measure for the droplet size.In the intensity distribution of the backward hemisphere the region of the first rainbow can be found. In the rainbow region a main maximum, subsidiary maxima and a ripple structure can be identified. The angular position of the main maximum is a measure for the refractive index of the droplet. The angular distance between the subsidiary maxima and the angular distance between the ripples both are a function of droplet size. A comparison with other size measurement methods gives information about the sphericity of the droplet.An evaporating droplet shows for instance oscillations of the rainbow position due to morphology dependent resonances. The oscillation frequency is proportional to the evaporation rate.