Light scattering by horizontally oriented ice columns.
Phase functions for different orientations of hexagonal ice columns in the horizontal plane are studied. Tables of distributions of scattered energy among halos depending on incident angles and aspect ratios are presented. It is shown that 50-75% of the scattered energy is distributed among a few number (≤ 7) of the halos. Polarization of scattered light at different polarization states of incident radiation is considered. Polarization degree of the scattered radiation is shown to be a qualitative indicator for a number of photon trajectories in a crystal that result in the main contribution to the scattering direction given.