Abstract

In comparing the Monte Carlo code (MSCAT) in EOSAEL¹ to analytic multiple scattering,² it is clear that MSCAT underpredicts the effects of multiple scattering for cases discussed in Ref. ². The reason for the underprediction is that the angular scattering algorithm used by this and other Monte Carlo codes may not be adequate for sharply peaked phase functions. Angular scattering is computed from a lookup table of the angular integral of the phase function tabulated at fixed angles. If the phase function is too sharply peaked for the chosen angle spacing, the generated scattering distribution will not reproduce the phase function. Because the lookup table is an integral of the phase function, this leads to the idea of picking the tabulated angles automatically by means of an adaptive quadrature. Use of adaptive quadrature means that the angles at which the phase function is tabulated are closest together where the phase function is sharpest.

© 1990 Optical Society of America