Theoretical Investigations on the Light Scattering of Colloidal Spheres. I. The Specific Turbidity

Scattering cross sections, scattering coefficients and specific turbidities are calculated from the Mie equations for α = 0.2(0.2)7.0(1)15 and m = 1.05(0.05)1.30; and, in addition, for α = 22(2)32; 39(1)41 and m = 1.05, for α = 16(1)21 and m = 1.10, for α = 7.2(0.2)15.2 and m = 1.20. Thus, the calculations cover virtually all dispersed systems of ultramicroscopic or small microscopic nonabsorbing spherical particles dispersed in a liquid. The effect of α and m upon these functions is discussed and a few approximating equations are given and tested for the limit of α→∞. The most important features of the Mie theory are briefly discussed and compared with those of alternate approximating theories.