Single scattering albedo - the ratio of scattering efficiency to total extinction efficiency (which is also termed "attenuance", a sum of scattering and absorption). Most often it is defined for small-particle scattering of electromagnetic waves

Electromagnetic radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...

. A single scattering albedo of unity implies that all particle extinction is due to scattering; conversely, a single scattering albedo of zero implies that all extinction is due to absorption.

For spherical particles one can calculate single scattering albedo from Mie theory

Mie theory

The Mie solution to Maxwell's equations describes the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by a sphere...

 and knowledge of bulk properties of material such as refractive index

Refractive index

In optics the refractive index or index of refraction of a substance or medium is a measure of the speed of light in that medium. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the considered medium....

. For non-spherical particles one could use discrete dipole approximation

Discrete dipole approximation

The discrete dipole approximation is a method for computing scattering of radiation by particles of arbitrary shape and by periodic structures. Given a target of arbitrary geometry, one seeks to calculate its scattering and absorption properties...

 or other methods of computational electromagnetics

Computational electromagnetics

Computational electromagnetics, computational electrodynamics or electromagnetic modeling is the process of modeling the interaction of electromagnetic fields with physical objects and the environment....

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