Polarization parameters of cotton leaves from a refraction model

摘要

The Clausius-Mossotti refractive-index equation, derived as solution to Maxwell's equation for wave propagation through dense media, is shown to explain the equality of transmittance and reflectance for cotton leaves in 1－1.6-μm-wavelength light. A procedure suggested by Feynman is used to derive the polarizability of water and of chlorophyll during light capture by leaves. Application of Clausius-Mossotti's equation suggest that the presence of water and chlorophyll in chloroplasts could explain light refraction by leaves.