Light scattering by biological spheroidal particles in geometric optics approximation

Abstract

The main goal of this work is the fast analysis of light scattered by a large optically soft spheroidal particle (size parameter ka > 20). In particular, these particles mimic single cells (e.g., red blood cells (RBC)) and their aggregates. Methodology of calculation of light scattering by arbitrarily oriented optically soft spheroidal particles in geometric optics approximation is presented. We show that the geometric optics approximation permits to quickly calculate the angular distributions of the intensities and phases of light scattered from optically soft particles, such as erythrocytes.