Abstract

Abstract Previous modeling studies have not properly explained the measured mass absorption cross section (MAC) at 550 nm, the linear backscattering depolarization ratio (LDR) at 355 and 532 nm, and the scattering matrix of soot at 532 nm. In this work, we attempt to use a black carbon (BC) model with an intrinsic organic carbon (OC) coating to explain the large MAC, large LDR, and measured scattering matrix. Our results show that the bare fractal BC model is not able to explain MAC, LDR, and scattering matrix simultaneously and that the modeling values do not cover the measurement range. This study shows that the modeled LDR and scattering matrix can cover the measurement range if we constrain the MAC of the BC in the measurement range by the intrinsic OC coating when we consider the effects of monomer radius, monomer number, and monomer overlap simultaneously. Therefore, intrinsic OC coating can be a significant source of uncertainty in the optical properties of fresh soot.