Scattering of light by dielectric particles: statistical theory

This paper presents a new theoretical approach to the modeling of light scattering by dielectric particles. The new theory is statistical and thermodynamic in its approach, rather than electromagnetic. Constrained maximization of entropy is used to predict the directionality and polarization of scattered light. The results are in a discretized form directly usable in computerized radiative-transfer simulations, thus circumventing the usual generation of the phase function with a Mie code followed by integration over solid angles as required. A considerable saving of computer time is thereby possible.