Geometrical optics approximation for light scattering by absorbing spherical particles

By means of geometrical optics, an approximation method is presented to compute the light scattering intensity of absorbing spherical particles illuminated by a plane wave. For absorbing particles, the effective refractive index and the effective refractive angle are related to the complex refractive index and incident angle. The formulas for calculation of the break of phases of reflection and refraction, which are different from the case of transparent particles, are exactly derived. Verification of the geometrical optics approximation (GOA) was performed by case studies and comparison of the present results with the Mie scattering. It is found that agreement between the GOA and the Mie theory is excellent in forward directions for weakly/moderately absorbing particles. Differently, for strongly absorbing particles, good agreement between the calculation methods is in the forward directions and large scattering angles. The agreement between the GOA and the Mie theory is better for larger particles.