An analog light scattering experiment of hexagonal icelike particles. PartII: Experimental and theoretical results

The scattering properties of hexagonal icelike crystals as measured in the analog manner by the experimental apparatus described in Part I are present ed. The crystals are made our of sodium fluoride (NaF), which has an index of refraction similar to that of water ice. The experimentally determined l ight intensities scattered from fixed and integrated random orientations of a NaF hexagonal crystal, oriented to produce a two-dimensional scattering profile, compares favorably to the expectations derived from geometric ray tracing methods. Also, the three-dimensional scattering properties of a sim ulated NaF Parry column, a NaF crystal aggregate, and a NaF plate with a ro ugh surface are compared to results computed from the geometric ray tracing approach. From these comparisons the authors conclude that within the expe rimental measurement uncertainties and to the degree in which the NaF cryst al models approach the geometric and optical ideal. the geometric ray traci ng approach is an excellent method to determine the single-scattering prope rties of hexagonal ice crystals of various shapes in the geometric optics d omain.