Treating absorption and scattering in equal measure, this self-contained, interdisciplinary study examines and illustrates how small particles absorb and scatter light. The authors emphasize that any discussion of the optical behavior of small particles is inseparable from a full understanding of the optical behavior of the parent material-bulk matter. To divorce one concept from the other is to render any study on scattering theory seriously incomplete.Special features and important topics covered in this book include: classical theories of optical properties based on idealized models; measurements for three representative materials: magnesium oxide, aluminum, and water; an extensive discussion of electromagnetic theory; numerous exact and approximate solutions to various scattering problems; examples and applications from physics, astrophysics, atmospheric physics, and biophysics; some 500 references emphasizing work done since Kerker's 1969 work on scattering theory; and, computer programs for calculating scattering by spheres, coated spheres, and infinite cylinders.