According to Bohren and Huffman, Scattering by a collection of randomly oriented anisotropic spheres is given by: = 1/3 C1+1/3 C2+1/3 C3,
"where Cj is the cross section for an isotropic sphere with dielectric function epsj, one of the three distinct (in general) principal values of the dielectric function tensor. Equation (8.3) has been used not only for spheres small compared with the wavelength but for larger spheres as well."
My argument against this is, that for spheres large compared to wavelength, an incoming polarized wave is generally split into two with mutual perpendicular polarization after interaction with the individual spheres. Therefore the equation above cannot be correct for larger spheres.
Are there new insights related to this question since the book of Bohren and Huffman "Absorption and scattering of light by small particles"?
Dear Mrs. Tsambani, thanks for adding the link to this interesting piece of experimental work! Please forgive my ignorance, but is there any result in this work which is pro or con concerning the statement of Bohren and Huffman above?
Actually, the approximation above is not even valid for small spheres... Article The effect of anisotropy on cross section spectra of uniaxia...
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