Scattering efficiency of aggregated clusters of spheres: dependence on configuration and composition

We study the orientation average scattering cross section of various isolated aggregates of identical spherical particles as functions of their size, optical properties, and spatial configurations. Two kinds of aggregates are studied: latex particles in water and rutile titanium dioxide pigments in a polymeric resin, with size parameters varying from 0.6 to 2.3. Calculations are performed by using a recursive centered T-matrix algorithm solution of the multiple scattering equation that we previously developed [J. Quant. Spectrose. Radiat. Transfer 79-80, 533 (2003)]. We show that for a specific size of the constituent spheres, their respective couplings apparently vanish, regardless of the aggregate configuration, and that the scattering cross section of the entire cluster behaves as if its constituents were isolated. We found that the particular radius for which this phenomenon occurs is a function of the relative refractive index of the system. We also study the correlations between the strength of the coupling among the constituent spheres, and the pseudofractal dimension of the aggregate as it varies from 1 to 30. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.