Thermal emission and volumetric absorption of a graded index semitransparent medium layer

Abstract

Both thermal emission and volumetric absorption characteristics of a graded index semitransparent medium layer are investigated numerically. The semitransparent and specular emerging surface of the medium layer is parallel to an opaque and diffuse substrate wall. Monochromatic spectrum or gray medium is considered in the analysis. A pseudo-source adding method is combined with a ray-splitting and -tracing technique to solve the radiative transfer in the medium. As examples, constant and linear refractive index distributions are examined for an isothermal layer and the medium layer with a linear temperature distribution. Directional and hemispherical thermal emissions from the emerging surface as well as the volumetric absorption to the diffuse and parallel incidence of radiation are investigated, respectively. The results show that the refractive index distribution has significant influences on thermal emission and volumetric absorption of a semitransparent medium layer. The optical thickness, temperature distribution and the reflectivity of substrate wall react in combination with the refractive index distribution.