Computation of spherical and non-spherical raindrop scattering parameters using the Mie and T-matrix models in relation to 5G wireless systems

The knowledge of rain-induced scattering and attenuation parameters is required in the optimum design of both ground and space-based communication systems. Free-falling raindrops in this work were modeled as spheres (for droplets with radius less than 0.5 mm) and oblate with flattened base (for drops with radius between 0.5 and 2 mm) and oblate with concave base (for drops with radius greater than 2 mm). The Mie and T-matrix models were used to compute the scattering parameters by single drop, with the T-matrix model focusing more on the flattened and concave base of the drops than previous studies, and comparisons were made to study the impact of the models on the scattering and attenuation of vertical and horizontally polarized waves with frequencies ranging from 10 to 100 GHz. The angular dependence of scattering, extinction, and absorption cross section for spherical and non-spherical raindrops of radius ranging from 0.5 to 4 mm at different frequencies were computed, and it was discovered that for single drop scattering, the angular dependency and cross sections of a non-spherical drop models differed from those of a spherical drop model and the differential scattering cross section of a non-spherical drop shows ringing as the scattering angle increases.