Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Why can the supernumerary bows be seen in a rain shower?

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

Although the spectra of drop radii in rain showers are broad, the supernumerary bows are caused by only those drops with radii of about 0.25 mm. The angle of minimum deviation, the rainbow angle, is a function of drop size, being large for big drops, owing to drop distortion, and large for small drops, owing to interference. Between these extremes, there is a minimum rainbow angle. The drops that cause it give rise to the supernumerary bows.

© 1983 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Appearance of supernumeraries of the secondary rainbow in rain showers

G. P. Können
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4(5) 810-816 (1987)

Angular scattering and rainbow formation in pendant drops

Kenneth Sassen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 69(8) 1083-1089 (1979)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (7)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved