Cylinders, scattering anisotropic

In this chapter we consider theories of scattering by particles that are either inhomogeneous, anisotropic, or nonspherical. No attempt will be made to be comprehensive our choice of examples is guided solely by personal taste. First we consider a special example of inhomogeneity, a layered sphere. Then we briefly discuss anisotropic spheres, including an exactly soluble problem. Isotropic optically active particles, ones with mirror asymmetry, are then considered. Cylindrical particles are not uncommon in nature—spider webs, viruses, various fibers—and we therefore devote considerable space to scattering by a right circular cylinder. 

Scattering problems in which the particle is composed of an anisotropic material are generally intractable. One of the few exceptions to this generalization is a normally illuminated cylinder composed of a uniaxial material, where the cylinder axis coincides with the optic axis. That is, if the constitutive relation connecting D and E is... 

Scattering media to which this matrix applies include randomly oriented anisotropic spheres of substances such as calcite or crystalline quartz (uniaxial) or olivine (biaxial). Also included are isotropic cylinders and ellipsoids of substances such as glass and cubic crystals. An example of an exactly soluble system to which (13.21) applies is scattering by randomly oriented isotropic spheroids (Asano and Sato, 1980). Elements of (13.21) off the block diagonal vanish. Some degree of alignment is implied, therefore, if these matrix elements... 

Figure 10.9. Linear anisotropic scattering of infinitely long cylinders [Source Reference 5].

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