Comparison of Sun pillars with light pillars from nearby light sources

Abstract

Using a Monte Carlo method, we simulate the appearance of light pillars produced by nearby light sources and compare their appearance with simulations of Sun pillars. Photographs of light pillars are also compared with the simulations. We expand the idea of light and Sun pillars by examining the reflected-light patterns from several different known distributions of airborne ice crystals. Polarization properties of light pillars from nearly horizontally oriented plate crystals are also simulated.

© 1998 Optical Society of America

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