Monte Carlo simulation of light scattering from magnetic fluids as a function of the particle chain width

Light scattering from a magnetic fluid in a strong magnetic field is simulated in this article on the basis of the Monte Carlo method, where the scattering effects of the anisotropic chains formed under the influence of the magnetic field play the most important role in scattering the incident light. The distribution of the widths of the chains is believed to follow a normal distribution pattern in a given area [W/sub min/, W/sub max/] where (W/sub min/ and W/sub max/ are the minimum and maximum widths of the chains in the sample, respectively. The simulated curve is compared with that based on the experimental results obtained under the same conditions and the two agree well. The influences of both the expectation and the deviation of the distribution which the widths of the chains follow on light scattering are also simulated, respectively, and conclusions are drawn.