Estimates of the albedo of powderlike surfaces in the geometrical optics approximation

Results of computer simulation of light scattering by powderlike media composed of large semitransparent particles of different shapes are presented. The geometrical optics approach is used. The cases of particles of spherical, cubic, and random shapes are considered. The one-dimensional geometrical optics model of light scattering by powderlike media, which finds application in investigations of planetary surfaces, meteorites, and lunar samples, is briefly described. The numerical simulation allowed us to estimate the error of this model, which turned out to be within the limits of several percent. The albedo calculated by using the one-dimensional model is shown to be closest to the “three-dimensional” reflectance of the surfaces at a phase angle of about 60°. This albedo also approximates fairly well the integrated reflectance, which in laboratory measurements is determined with the help of an integrating sphere.