Observing Mie Light Scattering

Abstract

Light scattering is an optical phenomenon where light waves disperse when they encounter particles, causing color separation. The most widely seen version is Rayleigh scattering, where light scatters when it hits particles that are much smaller than the light’s wavelength. This is why the sky is seen as being blue, since blue light has a short wavelength. Mie scattering occurs when light encounters particles that are larger than 1/10th of the light’s wavelength, which causes a different type of scattering. The scattering is primarily concentrated forwards, causing dissymmetry. The scattering is dependent on characteristics of the particle being hit, such as its size and shape. This dispersion can be used to determine the physical properties of particles normally too small to measure.