A thorough treatment of the multiple scattering of light and other electromagnetic radiation in media composed of randomly and sparsely positioned particles, for science professionals, engineers, and graduate students. It systematically and consistently presents radiative transfer theory as a branch of classical macroscopic electromagnetics.

This volume provides a thorough treatment of multiple scattering of light and other electromagnetic radiation in media composed of randomly and sparsely positioned particles. It systematically and consistently presents radiative transfer theory as a branch of classical macroscopic electromagnetics. After tracing the fundamental link between radiative transfer theory and the effect of coherent backscattering, the authors explain them in the context of a comprehensive hierarchy of electromagnetic scattering problems. Dedicated sections present a thorough discussion of the physical meaning and range of applicability of the radiative transfer equation and compare the self-consistent microphysical and the traditional phenomenological approaches to radiative transfer. This self-contained book will be valuable for science professionals, engineers, and graduate students working across a wide range of disciplines including optics, electromagnetics, remote sensing, atmospheric radiation, astrophysics, and biomedicine.