A simplified implementation of the discrete-ordinates method for a class of problems in radiative transfer with polarization

A simplified implementation of the analytical discrete ordinates (ADO) method in radiative transfer with polarization is presented in this work. The class of problems that can be solved with the simplified ADO approach consists of problems defined in plane-parallel geometry and driven by external illumination in the form of obliquely incident parallel rays. Numerical results of benchmark quality are tabulated for the albedo problem with polarization and Lambert reflection. The new results improve on a tabulation made available in a previous work by the authors that was based on the (less accurate) spherical harmonics method.

► The analytical discrete ordinates method in radiative transfer with polarization is re-examined. ► A new version which is much simpler than the existing one (Siewert, 2000 [7]) is reported. ► Improved (benchmark quality) numerical results are given for the test problem of Benassi et al. (1985) [4].