Optical Properties of Inhomogeneous Materials: Applications to Geology, Astronomy, Chemistry, and Engineering

Optical Properties of Inhomogeneous Materials: Applications to Geology, Astronomy, Chemistry, and Engineering reviews the results of studies of the optical properties of inhomogeneous materials and provides a guide for solving a number of related scientific and engineering problems based on these studies. Some of these studies focus on the surface and atmosphere of Mars, the earth's atmosphere, and the interstellar medium. The tools necessary for modeling the radiation scattered from diffuse surfaces are also described.

Comprised of 12 chapters, this book begins with a brief introduction to the formalism for optical properties of inhomogeneous materials, followed by a description of surface scattering models in order of increasing complexity and a discussion of atmospheric scattering by particulates. The experimental approaches for the determination of the refractive and absorptive components of the optical complex indices of refraction are then considered. Subsequent chapters present actual diffuse surface modeling examples and discuss applications such as remote sensing of planetary surfaces; study of the interstellar medium; research on thermal energy collectors; analysis of coatings and paints; and remote mineral exploration.

This monograph will be of interest to scientists, students, and researchers in different disciplines such as geology, optical mineralogy, astronomy, chemistry, soil mechanics, mechanical engineering, and optics.