ABSORPTION AND SCATTERING 471

dr

FIGURE 22H
Geometry of scattering by a thin lamina.

directions with respect to that of the primary beam. The scattered light is also strongly
polarized. These features are in general agreement with the predictions of the electro-
magnetic theory. We shall not discuss them, however, until we have taken up the
subject of polarization (see Sec. 24.17).

22.13 SCATTERING AND REFRACTIVE INDEX

The fact that the velocity of light in matter differs from that in vacuum is a consequence
of scattering. The individual molecules scatter a certain part of the light falling on
them, and the resulting scattered waves interfere with the primary wave, bringing
about a change of phase which is equivalent to an alteration of the wave velocity.
This process will be discussed in more detail in the chapter which follows, but here
some simplified considerations may be used to show the connection between scatter-
ing and refractive index.
In Fig. 22H plane waves are shown striking an infinitely wide sheet of a trans-
parent material, the thickness of which is small compared to the wavelength. Let the
electric vector in this incident wave have unit amplitude, so that in the exponential
notation (Sec. 14.8) it may be represented at a particular time by E = elk>:. If the
fraction of the wave that is scattered is small, the disturbance reaching some point P
will be essentially the original wave, plus a small contribution due to the light scattered
by all the atoms in the thin lamina. To evaluate the latter, we note that its intensity
is proportional to the coefficient IX. ofEq. (22b). This measures the fractional decrease
of intensity by scattering in traversing the small thickness t, to which the scattered
intensity must be proportional. We therefore have
dI
--=lXt~l (22c)
I • •
The intensity scattered by a single atom, since there are Nt atoms per unit area of the
lamina, becomes
I1 ..., lXi _ IX.
...,---
Nt N
and the amplitude
472 FUNDAMENTALS OF OPTICS

These relations hold if the scattered waves from the different centers are non-
coherent, as is true for the smoke particles discussed in Sec. 22.2. The present case
of Rayleigh scattering in the forward direction must be taken as coherent, however,
so that all waves leave the scatterer in phase with each other. Then we must add
amplitudes instead of intensities, and the total scattered amplitude

Es ~ Nt J~ = tJrt.sN

The complex amplitude at P is obtained by integrating this quantity over the surface
of the lamina, and adding it to the amplitude of the primary wave. The resultant
then becomes
E +E =
s
elkRo + tJ!X N
s Joroo 2nrR dr e1kR

where the factor IfR enters because of the inverse-square law. Now since R2 =
R02 + r2, we have r dr = R dR, and the integral may be written

roo 2n e1kRr dr = 2n fOO e1kR dR = ~n [e1kR]R'o

Jo R Ro Ik
Since the wave trains always have a finite length, the scattering as R --. 00 can con-
tribute nothing to the coherent wave. Substituting the lower limit of the integral,
we find

E + E s = elkRo - t Jrt. s N ~• elkRo

I

= elkRo + t"; rt.sN iAelkRo

= e1kR0(l + iAt ..; !XsN)
By our original assumption, the second term in parentheses is small compared with
the first. These will be recognized as the first two terms in the expansion of eW.;;;N,
and may here be equated to it, giving

E + Es = exp ikRo exp (iAtJ !XsN) = exp [i(kRo + AtJ !XsN)]

Thus the phase of the wave at P has been altered by the amount At"; !XsN. But
we know (Sec. 13.15) that the presence of a lamina of thickness 1 and refractive
index n gives a phase retardation of (2nfA)(n - 1)1. Hence
r-;; 2n
At"!XsN = - (n - I)t
A
2
and finally n-I=- A ..;- !XN (22d)
2n s

This important relation contains Rayleigh's law of scattering (Sec. 22.9). Since,
by Eq. (22c), Is is proportional to !X this scattered intensity varies as IfA\ assuming
S'

n to be independent of wavelength. In our derivation no absorption has been con-

 ABSORPTION AND SCATIERING 473

sidered, so that the equation is valid only for wavelengths well away from any absorp-
tion bands. In the next chapter we shall see how the refractive index behaves as the
wavelength approaches that of an absorption band.

PROBLEMS
22.1 A glass tube 3.50 m long contains a gas at normal atmospheric pressure. If the gas
under these conditions has an absorption coefficient of 0.1650 m-t, find the relative
intensity of transmitted light. Ans. 0.561, or 56.1%
22.2 A hollow glass tube 35.0 cm long with end windows contains tiny smoke particles that
produce Rayleigh scattering. Under these conditions it transmits 65.0 percent of the
light. After precipitation of the smoke particles it transmits 88.0 percent of the light.
Calculate the value of (a) the scattering coefficient and (b) the absorption coefficient.
22.3 A solid plastic rod 60.0 cm long transmits 85.0 percent of the light entering it at one
end. When it is subjected to a strong beam of radiation, tiny particles are produced
in it that give rise to Rayleigh scattering. Under these modified conditions the rod
transmits 55.0 percent of the light. Calculate (a) the absorption coefficient and (b) the
scattering coefficient.
22.4 A certain plastic rod 40.0 cm long has an absorption coefficient of 0.00429 cm-1• If
50.0 percent of the light entering the end of this tube is transmitted, find (a) the scatter-
ing coefficient and (b) the total coefficient.
Ans. (a) 0.01304 cm-1, (b) 0.01733 cm-1
22.5 According to the data given in this chapter, are the residual rays of (a) rubidium
chloride transmitted by rock salt (NaCI) and (b) sodium chloride transmitted by
quartz?
22.6 The residual rays after five reflections from a certain type of crystal are 4.25 x 106
times more intense than radiation of adjacent wavelengths. Assuming the reflectance
at the latter wavelengths to be 4.250 percent, what must be the reflectance at the center
of the absorption band?
22.7 Calculate the ratio of the intensities of Rayleigh scattering for the two mercury lines,
A = 2536 A in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum and A = 4916 A in the blue-green
of the visible region. Ans. 14.123
22.8 Photographers know that an orange filter will cut out the bluish haze of scattered light
and give better contrast in a landscape photograph. Assuming the spectral composition
shown in Fig. 220, what fraction of the scattered light is removed by a filter that
absorbs the light below 5500 A? The transmission of the camera lens and the film
sensitivity limit the normal spectral range of the camera from 3900 from 6200 A.