Radiative Properties of Particulate Media: Theory and Applications

This lecture covers the radiative properties of particulate media, focusing on the complex index of refraction and the effects of particle shape. It introduces concepts such as reflection, diffraction, and scattering, distinguishing between isotropic and anisotropic materials. The instructor discusses the behavior of particle clouds, including independent and dependent scattering, and the significance of size parameters in determining scattering types, such as Rayleigh and Mie scattering. The lecture also delves into the radiative characteristics of single spheres, including absorption, scattering, and extinction efficiency factors. The particle distribution functions for both monodisperse and polydisperse particles are explained, along with their implications for radiative properties. The instructor provides mathematical formulations for calculating these efficiencies and discusses practical examples, such as soot in combustion processes. The lecture concludes with references to key texts and algorithms related to Mie scattering, emphasizing the importance of understanding these properties in the context of heat transfer and energy sciences.