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Radiative transfer in a sphere illuminated by a parallel beam - An integral equation approachThe problem of multiple scattering of nonpolarized light in a planetary body of arbitrary shape illuminated by a parallel beam is formulated using the integral equation approach. There exists a simple functional whose stationarity condition is equivalent to solving the equation of radiative transfer and whose value at the stationary point is proportional to the differential cross section. The analysis reveals a direct relation between the microscopic symmetry of the phase function for each scattering event and the macroscopic symmetry of the differential cross section for the entire planetary body, and the interconnection of these symmetry relations and the variational principle. The case of a homogeneous sphere containing isotropic scatterers is investigated in detail. It is shown that the solution can be expanded in a multipole series such that the general spherical problem is reduced to solving a set of decoupled integral equations in one dimension. Computations have been performed for a range of parameters of interest, and illustrative examples of applications to planetary problems as provided.
Document ID
19860046017
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Shia, R.-L.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Yung, Y. L.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 15, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 301
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
86A30755
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7376
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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