Relation between absorption coefficient and imaginary index of atmospheric aerosol constituents

The absorption coefficient per unit mass alpha(cm(2)g(-l)) for aerosols in the wavelength range lambda = 1.06-10.6 microm is shown to be a sensitive function of particle size distribution and of both imaginary and real indexes of refraction. Hence the imaginary index of refraction cannot be accurately determined from absorption measurements on an aerosol sample as attempted by S. A. Schleusener et al., Appl. Opt. 15, 2546 (1976), unless the size distribution and real index of the aerosol material are known. Similar difficulties arise in attempts to infer imaginary index from transmission measurements through aerosol samples as done by F. E. Volz, Appl. Opt. 11, 755 (1972); 12, 564 (1973) and K. Fischer, Beitr. Phys. Atmos. 43, 244 (1970). In addition, scattering losses can further complicate the determination of imaginary index from transmission measurements.