Mie scattering is a type of light scattering phenomenon that occurs when a beam of light interacts with particles that are larger than the wavelength of the light. It is named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, who first described it in 1908.
The word "Mie" is pronounced as "mee-ay" with the emphasis on the first syllable. This pronunciation is based on the German pronunciation of Gustav Mie's last name.
While both Mie scattering and Rayleigh scattering involve the interaction of light with particles, the main difference between them is the size of the particles. Mie scattering occurs with particles that are larger than the wavelength of light, while Rayleigh scattering occurs with particles that are smaller than the wavelength of light.
Mie scattering can be observed in various natural phenomena such as the blue color of the sky, the white color of clouds, and the red color of sunsets. It also plays a role in the appearance of gemstones, opals, and certain types of glass.
Mie scattering is used in a wide range of scientific fields, including atmospheric science, astronomy, and materials science. It is commonly used to study the properties of particles, such as their size, shape, and composition. It is also used in medical research for applications such as analyzing the size and shape of cells.