Issue 8, November 2003
The 8th
International Conference on Electromagnetic and Light Scattering by
Nonspherical Particles
will be held in Salobreña, Granada (Spain), on May 16-20, 2005. A web page
has been posted with the preliminary annoncement of the meeting (essentially
the date and location), just to let the light scattering community to know the
meeting coordinates well in advance. This is the address: http://www.iaa.csic.es/~confels8
Fernando Moreno
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New book:
Jose Carlos del Toro Iniesta
“Introduction to Spectropolarimetry”
Cambridge University Press
March 2003
244 pages 41 line diagrams 17 half-tones 2 tables
ISBN: 0521818273
Abstract:
Spectropolarimetry embraces the most complete and
detailed measurement and analysis of light, as well as its interaction with
matter. This book provides an introductory overview of the area, which is playing
an increasingly important role in modern solar observations. Chapters include a
comprehensive description of the polarization state of polychromatic light and
its measurement, an overview of astronomical (solar) polarimetry, the radiative
transfer equation for polarized light, and the formation of spectral lines in
the presence of a magnetic field. Most topics are dealt with within the realm
of classical physics, although a small amount of quantum mechanics is
introduced where necessary. This text will be a valuable reference for
graduates and researchers in astrophysics, solar physics and optics.
http://books.cambridge.org/0521818273.htm
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New databases:
Amsterdam Light-Scattering
Database
A new extensive database contains experimental scattering matrix elements as functions of the scattering angle measured at 441.6 nm and 632.8 nm for a large collection of micron-sized mineral particles in random orientation. This unique database is accessible through the World Wide Web: http://www.astro.uva.nl/scatter/ . Size distribution tables of the particles are also provided, as well as other characteristics relevant to light scattering. The database provides the light scattering community with easily accessible information that is useful, for a variety of applications such as testing theoretical methods, and the interpretation of measurements of scattered radiation.
The
database was developed by H. Volten, O. Munoz, J.W. Hovenier, J.F. de Haan, W.
Vassen, W.J. van der Zande, L.B.F.M. Waters
Database of
Optical Properties of small particles (DOP)
http://urania.astro.spbu.ru/DOP/
The DOP contains:
i) original codes realizing different methods to calculate the
optical properties of non-spherical (inhomogeneous) particles;
ii) reviews of exact and approximate methods of light scattering
theory;
iii) a database of several thousands references to papers on
various aspects of light-scattering theory and its applications;
iv) a graphics library illustrating light scattering by particles
of different sizes/shapes/structures (a part of the data are in tabular form to
serve as benchmarks);
v) a special tool to calculate on-line selected optical
characteristics of different scatterers (homogeneous and core-mantle spheres,
infinitely long cylinders, spheroids, etc.);
vi) a self-training algorithm of determination of the optical
properties of fractal-like clusters;
vii) a collection of links to related internet resources.
The database was developed by V.B.Il'in, N.V.Voshchinnikov, V.A.Babenko, S.A.Beletsky ,N.G.Khlebtsov