Multiangle Polarimetry of Thermal Emission and Light Scattering by Individual Particles in Airflow

The generalized Kirchhoff's law predicts that the polarization state of thermal emission from an individual small particle depends on the particle shape. We show for the first time experimental evidence confirming this prediction for particles smaller than the wavelength by using a newly developed laser-induced incandescence instrument and a theoretical model that can predict the signals of thermal emission and light scattering for an ellipsoid under the dipole approximation (Rayleigh ellipsoid). We use single-sphere (singlet) and two-sphere clusters (doublet) of polystyrene latex spheres as primary test particles. These are currently available, well-characterized spherical and nonspherical particles, respectively. The polarization states of thermal emission and scattered light of graphite particles smaller than the wavelength show a good agreement with model calculations for plate-like Rayleigh-spheroids, consistent with their plate-like shapes observed by a transmission electron microscope. We propose that the measurement of the polarization state of thermal emission may be applicable to real-time analysis of the shape of light-absorbing particles in air.