Analytical solution to the optical transfer function of a scattering medium with large particles

Appl Opt. 1994 Sep 20;33(27):6547-54. doi: 10.1364/AO.33.006547.

Abstract

A new analytical expression for the optical transfer function of multiple-scattering media such as clouds, mists, and dust aerosols is given in terms of their microphysical characteristics. The geometrical optics approximation is used to find local optical parameters of a scattering medium, including the simple approximation of the phase function, which is the key to the solution of the problem considered here. The optical transfer function is taken within a small-angle approximation of the radiative transfer theory. A comparison with Monte Carlo data shows a fairly satisfactory accuracy of our analytic formulas.