ABSTRACT: The T-matrix (or EBCM) method, which relates the expansion coefficients of the incident and scattered electric fields, has been developed to account for light scattering experiments where the particles are not assumed to be spherical. It is specially suitable for axisymmetric particles, since in this case the T matrix is decoupled into smaller, independente submatrices. A series of experimental measurements of light scattering have been carried out on spherical (polystyrene) and nonspherical (hematite) systems, and the results have been compared to the T-matrix theory. Theoretical fits show good agreement between the size-shape parameters obtained by this method as compared to electron microscopy, thus indicating that the procedure can be used to infer size and shape of suspended particles. Systems ranging from atmospheric aerosols to interstellar coulds can be studied in this way.

Keywords: Light scattering, colloidal ellipsoids, EBCM theory.