In Mie scattering, the scattering of electromagnetic waves by spherical particles, the scattering behavior depends on several factors, including the size of the particles and the wavelength of the incident light.
Generally, in Mie scattering, the scattering efficiency is influenced by the ratio of the size of the particle to the wavelength of the incident light. This ratio is often represented by the parameter x, known as the size parameter, defined as x = (2πr/λ), where r is the radius of the particle and λ is the wavelength of the incident light.
For smaller particles or shorter wavelengths (smaller x values), Rayleigh scattering dominates. Rayleigh scattering occurs when the size parameter is much smaller than 1. In Rayleigh scattering, shorter wavelengths are scattered more than longer wavelengths, and the scattering intensity is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength. This is why the sky appears blue, as the shorter blue wavelengths are scattered more than the longer red wavelengths by molecules in the Earth's atmosphere.
On the other hand, in Mie scattering, when the size parameter approaches or exceeds 1, the scattering behavior becomes more complex. For larger particles or longer wavelengths (larger x values), the scattering becomes less wavelength-dependent. In this regime, both shorter and longer wavelengths can be scattered with comparable efficiency, and the scattering pattern may exhibit various scattering angles and features.
Therefore, in the Mie scattering regime, it is not accurate to simply state that longer wavelengths scatter more than shorter wavelengths. The scattering behavior is influenced by the interplay of particle size, wavelength, and the specific conditions of the scattering system.