Small angle light scattering by large spheroids. Comparison with patterns from erythrocytes under shear

Abstract

The physical optics approximation has been used to compute small angle light scattering patterns from spheroids regarded as models for deformed red cells. According to their orientation, diagrams have been obtained whose fine structure can be very different from that resulting of the classical diffraction (existence of maxima and minima of intensity along the rings). Some experimental results for red cells suspensions under shear are shown which exhibit features very similar to the theoretical ones.