An Explanation of Solar Glories in Terms of Surface Waves Propagating in the Interior of Water Droplets

Abstract

Solar glories are often seen in clouds, mists and fogs as concentric color rings around the shadow of an observer. In contrast to atmospheric rainbows, coronas and halos, which are well understood, a satisfactory explanation for solar glories has been missing so far. The paper explains the phenomenon in terms of surface waves propagating in the interior of water droplets, which are excited by the incident light in a neighborhood of the equator, in part by the rays missing the sphere (tunneling), circumvent the backside of the sphere as whispering gallery waves and finally leave the sphere on the opposite side toward the observer.