RADIATIVE TRANSFER IN A RAYLEIGH SCATTERING ATMOSPHERE

The numerical solution of the problem of radiative transfer in an inhomogeneous free-electron scattering, plane parallel atmosphere with an arbitrary internal source distribution is discussed. We give a simple recursive method to derive the internal radiation field in such an atmosphere and also a second algorithm to derive only the responses from the atmosphere. We also describe modifications to these methods for use when the lower boundary of the atmosphere is a reflecting surface. We analyse the transfer of radiation in a conservative scattering atmosphere to illustrate these methods. © 1968.