Small particle light scattering can produce light with polarization characteristics different from those of the incident beam. An analytical solution to the scattering by a spheroid with inclusion for an on-axis polarized Gaussian beam incidence is provided within the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory framework. The shapes of the inclusion can be spherical, confocal spheroid, or non-confocal spheroid. The Muller scattering matrix elements are computed for plane wave incidence or Gaussian light beam incidence. The effect of the size and shape of the inclusion or the coating on the polarized Gaussian light scattering characteristics by a spheroidal water coating aerosol particle are computed and analyzed.

A method of clarifying bioaerosol particles is proposed based on T-matrix. Size and shape characterizations are simultaneously acquired for individual bioaerosol particles by analyzing the spatial distribution of scattered light. The particle size can be determined according to the scattering intensity, while shape information can be obtained through asymmetry factor (AF). The azimuthal distribution of the scattered light for spherical particles is symmetrical, whereas it is asymmetrical for non-spherical ones, and the asymmetry becomes intense with increasing asphericity. The calculated results denote that the 5o–10o scattering angle is an effective range to classify the bioaerosol particles that we are concerned of. The method is very useful in real-time environmental monitoring of particle sizes and shapes.