Advanced Methods for Optical Characterization of Complex Particle Systems

The project deals with optical properties of droplets and particles of “complex” shapes, and whose sizes are beyond a few visible light wavelengths. In this domain, rigorous theories and existing numerical methods cannot be applied to accurately describe light scattering phenomena. We propose a new methodology to calculate the interaction of light with such objects, in parallel to a series of experimental tests for validation. The project includes novel applications in optical metrology, and in optical trapping and manipulation of non spherical particles.

Our main ambitions:

• Development of a novel Ray Theory of Wave (RTW),
• Theoretical and experimental validation of RTW;
• Applications of TRW in the characterization of complex particle system,
• Application of TRW to optical metrology of sprays and bubbly flows;
• Prediction of radiation pressure forces and torques for complex particles,
• Manipulation and trapping of non-spherical particles.