Light Scattering by Small Multilayer Particles: A Generalized Separation of Variables Method

A Rayleigh approximation is constructed for light scattering by small multilayer axisymmetric particles, in which their polarizability is determined by the generalized separation of variables method (SVM). In this method, scalar potentials, the gradients of which yield the electric-field strengths, are represented as expansions in spherical harmonics of the Laplace equation. Unknown coefficients of expansions are determined from the boundary conditions, which are reduced to infinite systems of linear algebraic equations (ISLAEs), since the separation of variables is incomplete. The T matrix of the electrostatic problem, principal element T₁₁ of which is proportional to the particle polarizability, is determined. The necessary condition for the ISLAEs solvability for the SVM coincides with the condition of the correct application of the extended boundary conditions method (EBCM). However, numerical calculations in which finite-dimensional (i.e., reduced) systems are solved, yield different results in ranges of variation of parameters that are close to the boundary of the range of applicability. An analysis of the numerical calculations of the scattering and absorption cross sections for two-layer confocal spheroids, an exact solution for which can be obtained using spheroidal harmonics, shows that the SVM is preferable to the EBCM. It turned out that the proposed method yields workable results in a wider range of variation of parameters. Even outside the range of applicability, in which it should be regarded as a certain approximate solution, its use in a number of cases is quite acceptable. Additional calculations for three-layer nonconfocal spheroids, as well as for three-layer similar pseudospheroids and Pascal’s snails, which can be obtained from spheroids as a result of the inversion with respect to the coordinate origin and one of the foci, respectively, confirm these inferences. We note that, for certain values of the parameters, the shapes of the latter particles are nonconvex.     

On the applicability of a spherical basis for spheroidal layered scatterers

The applicability of an analog of the extended boundary condition method, which is popular in light-scattering theory, is studied in combination with the standard spherical basis for the solution of an electrostatic problem appearing for spheroidal layered scatterers the sizes of which are small as compared to the incident radiation wavelength. In the case of two or more layers, polarizability and other optical characteristics of particles in the far zone are shown to be undeterminable if the condition under which the appearing systems of linear equations for expansion coefficients of unknown fields are Fredholm systems solvable by the reduction method is broken. For two-layer spheroids with confocal boundaries, this condition is transformed into a simple restriction on the ratio of particle semiaxes a/b< $\sqrt 2 $ + 1. In the case of homogeneous particles, the solvability condition is that the radius of convergence of the internal-field expansion must exceed that of the expansion of an analog of the scattering field. Since homogeneous spheroids (ellipsoids) are unique particles inside which the electrostatic field is homogeneous, it is shown that the solution can be always found in this case. The obtained results make it possible to match in principle the results of theoretical and numerical determinations of the domain of applicability for the extended boundary condition method with a spherical basis for spheroidal scatterers.     

Near- and far-field light scattering by nonspherical particles: Applicability of methods that involve a spherical basis

The separation of variables method for coordinate system, the extended boundary condition method, and the point-matching method that are used to solve the problem of light scattering by nonspherical particles are considered from a unified viewpoint. It is shown that, if the mathematical correctness condition (the Rayleigh hypothesis) holds, these methods are interrelated and are equivalent. The applicability ranges of the methods in the near- and far-field zones are analyzed, discussed, and compared on both analytical (based on analytical investigations) and practical (based on numerical calculations) grounds.     

Computer programs for light scattering by particles with inclusions

We present a comparison of computational results from light scattering by spherical particles with inclusions. The different simulation methods like the T-matrix method, multiple multipole method and the method of separation of variables are presented shortly. Exemplary numerical simulations involve scattering by particles with one or two spherical inclusions and scattering by particles with non-spherical inclusions.     

Comparison of the light scattering methods using the spherical basis

A comparative analysis of the widely known methods for solving the problem of light scattering by nonspherical particles—of the method of separation of variables (MSV), of the extended boundary condition method (EBCM), and the point-matching method (PMM), which use the spherical wave functions as a basis for the expansions of the fields—is carried out. In the scientific literature, these methods have been analyzed independently of one another in spite of their evident similarity: The same expansion coefficients are determined from similar set of equations and all optical characteristics are calculated with the same formulas. The ranges of applicability of the methods for dielectric spheroids and Chebyshev particles are studied in the same manner. It was found that, when considering the far-field zone, theoretical conditions of mathematical correctness of the EBCM and the MSV, apparently, differ fundamentally, although, as was shown, the methods themselves are extremely closely related. The performed numerical calculations suggest that the EBCM is preferable for spheroids, the MSV is preferable for Chebyshev particles, and the PMM, which is the most time-consuming method, gives satisfactory results in many cases when two other methods are inapplicable. Since the methods supplement one another well and their programs differ only in several tens of operators, we propose combining these methods within the framework of one universal program.     

Simulation of electromagnetic scattering by random discrete particles using a hybrid FE-BI-CBFM technique

A hybrid finite element–boundary integral–characteristic basis function method (FE-BI-CBFM) is proposed for an efficient simulation of electromagnetic scattering by random discrete particles. Specifically, the finite element method (FEM) is used to obtain the solution of the vector wave equation inside each particle and the boundary integral equation (BIE) using Green's functions is applied on the surfaces of all the particles as a global boundary condition. The coupling system of equations is solved by employing the characteristic basis function method (CBFM) based on the use of macro-basis functions constructed according to the Foldy–Lax multiple scattering equations. Due to the flexibility of FEM, the proposed hybrid technique can easily deal with the problems of multiple scattering by randomly distributed inhomogeneous particles that are often beyond the scope of traditional numerical methods. Some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed method.     

An Ellipsoidal Model for Small Multilayer Particles

This paper presents an ellipsoidal model that is constructed for small layered nonspherical particles and methods for constructing “effective” multilayer ellipsoids, the light-scattering properties of which would be close to the corresponding properties of original particles. In the case of axisymmetric particles, prolate or oblate spheroids (ellipsoids of revolution) are implied. Numerical calculations of the polarizability and scattering cross sections of small layered nonspherical particles, including nonconfocal (similar) spheroids, Chebyshev particles, and pseudospheroids, are performed by different approximate and rigorous methods. Approximate approaches involve the use of an ellipsoidal model, in which the polarizability of a layered particle is determined in two ways. In the first case, the polarizability is calculated in the approximation of confocal spheroids, while, in the second case, it is sought as a linear combination of the polarizabilities of embedded spheroids proportionally to the volumes of layers. Among rigorous methods, the extended boundary conditions method and the generalized separation of variables method are applied. On the basis of a comparison of the results obtained with rigorous and approximate approaches, their drawbacks and advantages are discussed.     

一类各项异性半线性椭圆方程自然边界元与有限元耦合法

将冯康和余德浩提出的自然边界归化方法用于研究一类半线性椭圆方程外区域问题，提出一种自然边界元与有限元的耦合算法、针对某一类半线性椭圆方程，应用变分原理，研究其弱解性及Galerkin逼近，得到有限元解的误差估计及收敛阶O(h^n)，最后给出相应数值例子。     

Size dependent optical characterization of semiconductor particle: CdS embedded in polymer matrix

We report the optical investigation and analysis of both nano-sized and micrometer size Cadmium Sulphide particles which is embedded in a transparent polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) dielectric host material. A designed and fabricated laser based light scattering system using a He-Ne laser of wavelength 632.8nm was used for the measurement and study of the scattering properties of the particles as a function of the scattering angle at this wavelength. An attempt was made to experimentally determine the most significant elements of the Mueller scattering matrix using combinations of randomly and linearly polarized incident laser beam and subsequent analyzers in corresponding orientations. The analysis of the experimental data was done by the method of comparison with theoretically generated data. Novel computational technique, involving single scattering for spherical particles using Mie-theory, was developed and applied. The theoretical data was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data within an acceptable margin of error. The results have proved that the combination of the experimental setup and associated computational method is a highly efficient and reliable in-situ system for monitoring size growth of semiconductor particles in the laboratory.     

Two-dimensional isotropic scattering in a semi-infinite cylindrical medium

Beginning with the integral equation for the source function, the solutions for the source function, flux and intensity at the boundary of a two-dimensional, isotropically scattering cylindrical medium are found. The incident radiation is collimated and normal to the surface of the medium and depends only on the radial coordinate. For a Bessel function boundary condition, separation of variables is used to reduce the source function integral equation to a one-dimensional equation. The resulting integral equation is shown to be the same as that for the two-dimensional planar case. Solutions for other boundary conditions are then shown to be superpositions of the Bessel function solution. Numerical results are presented for a Gaussian distribution of incident radiation which closely models a laser beam. These multiple scattering results are compared to the single scattering approximation. Also, the solution for a strongly anisotropic phase function which is made up of a spike in the forward direction superimposed on an otherwise isotropic phase function is expressed in terms of the isotropic results.     

An Efficient Algorithm for Truncating Spatial Domain in Modeling Light Scattering by Finite-Difference Technique

The finite-difference time domain technique is one of the most robust and accurate numerical methods for the solution of light scattering by small particles with arbitrary composition and geometry. In practice, this method requires that the spatial domain for the computation of near-field be truncated. An absorbing boundary condition must be imposed in conjunction with this truncation. The performance of this boundary condition is essential to the stability of numerical computations and the reliability of results. In the present study, a new boundary condition, referred to as the mixed T algorithm, has been developed, which is a generalization of the transmitting boundary condition originally developed by Liao and co-workers. The present algorithm does not require spatial interpolation for wave values at interior grid points. In addition, it produces two minima of spurious reflections at small and large incident angles, allowing efficient absorption of the scattered waves at the boundary for large incident angles. When the third-order mixed T algorithm is used, the reflection coefficient of the boundary is less than 1% for incident angles from 0° to about 70°. We find that the numerical instability associated with the transmitting boundary condition is caused by the location-dependent amplitude of outgoing waves in the vicinity of the boundary. For this reason, the mixed T algorithm is stabilized by consistently introducing diffusive coefficients into the boundary equation. When the stabilized algorithm is applied, the near-field within the truncated domain can be computed by using single-precision arithmetic without overflows for more than 10⁵steps in the time-marching iteration. Finally, the new absorbing boundary condition is validated by carrying out numerical experiments involving the propagation of a TM wave excited by a sinusoidal point source, simultaneous simulation of the wave propagation in small and large domains, and the scattering of a TM wave by an infinite circular cylinder.     

The Simulation of Phase-Doppler Anemometry by the Multiple Multipole Method

When applying phase-Doppler anemometry (PDA) to measurements of mass flux, one has to deal with errors caused by multiple scattering effects within a PDA measurement volume. Theoretical research on the influence of multiple scattering effects on PDA is more promising than experimental work, because each error source can be treated separately. Therefore, we have simulated multiple scattering effects occurring in the measurement volume by extending a method for light scattering calculations to Gaussian beams: the multiple multipole method (MMP). The current version of our computer program is able to simulate PDA with any set-up consisting of Gaussian beams, using one or more homogeneous particles with arbitrary shape and movement and two detectors at any position and with an arbitrarily shaped aperture. In this paper we have concentrated on multiple scattering effects caused by two equally sized spheres, a case which is frequently found in atomizalion.     

Light scattering by multilayered axisymmetric particles: Solution of the problem by the separation of variables method

A new solution to the problem of light scattering by multilayered particles possessing axial symmetry is obtained. Two methods are applied for this purpose. One is the separation of variables method with expansion of fields in terms of spherical wave functions, and the other is a novel approach based on the separation of fields into axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric parts and on the choice of specific scalar potentials for each of them. A specific feature of the new solution is that the dimension of truncated linear algebraic systems used for determining unknown expansion coefficients of fields does not increase with an increasing number of layers. Using double-and three-layer spheroidal and Chebyshev particles of different shape and size as examples, the domain of applicability of the solution presented is compared with that of the solution previously obtained by the extended boundary conditions method. Except for nearly spherical particles, the solution presented is shown to be more favorable than the previously obtained solution.     

双重弹性波波场分离数值模拟及相关理论证明

提出一种等效的双重弹性波波场分离数值模拟方法,用于模拟纯纵波和纯横波分离模式的质点振动速度、位移以及散度场和旋度场,并将该方法应用于全弹性波波动方程数值模拟中.同时,详细推导双重弹性波波场分离波动方程的高阶交错网格有限差分数值计算公式及其稳定性条件、数值频散关系和完全匹配层(PML)吸收边界条件.理论分析和数值计算均表明,该方法可以实现高精度双重弹性波波场分离数值模拟,且纯纵波和纯横波得到完全分离,边界吸收效果较好.与前人工作相比,存储量和计算时间均得到有效改善,数值计算结果进一步验证了该方法的优越性.     

The Solutions for the Boundary Layer Problem of Boltzmann Equation in a Half-Space

We study the half space boundary layer problem for Boltzmann equation with cut-off potentials in all the cases −3<γ≤1, while the boundary condition is imposed on the incoming particles of Dirichlet type, and the solution is assumed to approach to a global Maxwellian at the far field. The same as for cut-off hard sphere model, there is an implicit solvability condition on the boundary data which gives the co-dimensions of the boundary data in terms of positive characteristic speeds.     

Helmholtz equation and non-singular boundary elements applied to multi-disciplinary physical problems

The famous scientist Hermann von Helmholtz was born 200 years ago. Many complex physical wave phenomena in engineering can effectively be described using one or a set of equations named after him: the Helmholtz equation. Although this has been known for a long time, from a theoretical point of view, the actual numerical implementation has often been hindered by divergence-free and/or curl-free constraints. There is further a need for a numerical method that is accurate, reliable and takes into account radiation conditions at infinity. The classical boundary element method satisfies the last condition, yet one has to deal with singularities in the implementation. We review here how a recently developed singularity-free three-dimensional boundary element framework with superior accuracy can be used to tackle such problems only using one or a few Helmholtz equations with higher order (quadratic) elements which can tackle complex curved shapes. Examples are given for acoustics (a Helmholtz resonator among others) and electromagnetic scattering.     

Mathematical and numerical studies on meshless methods for exterior unbounded domain problems

The method of fundamental solutions (MFS) is an efficient meshless method for solving boundary value problems in an exterior unbounded domain. The numerical solution obtained by the MFS is accurate, while the corresponding matrix equation is ill-conditioned. A modified MFS (MMFS) with the proper basis functions is proposed by the introduction of the modified Trefftz method (MTM). The concrete expressions of the corresponding condition numbers are given in mathematical forms and the solvability by these methods is mathematically proven. Thereby, the optimal parameter minimizing the condition number is also mathematically given. Numerical experiments show that the condition numbers of the matrices corresponding to the MTM and the MMFS are reduced and that the numerical solution by the MMFS is more accurate than the one by the conventional method.     

Composites of resonant dielectric rods: A test of their behavior as metamaterial refractive elements

We report numerical experiments of optical wave propagation in composites of high refractive index dielectric rods at frequencies where their first electric and magnetic Mie resonances are excited. The arrays of these particles have been extensively studied and proposed as non-absorbing and isotropic metamaterials. We show that negative refraction, observed in such ordered particle arrays, is due to diffraction and that an effective medium theory (EMT) yields constitutive parameters that do not reproduce the observations in these composites, whose transmission also depends on the sample shape. This is further confirmed by disordering the arrays, a case in which large transmission losses appear due to extinction by resonant scattering from the particles. Therefore, these composites, although having little absorption, give rise to large extinction due to scattering and do not constitute an improvement, as low loss refractive elements, upon all previously designed highly absorbing metamaterials.     

曲边六面体矢量单元的改进与应用

改进了曲边六面体矢量单元的矢量基函数.简要回顾了原六面体矢量单元的定义之后,介绍了新的矢量基函数的构造方法,矢量基函数间的正交性因此有所改善,并有利于处理有限元Dirichlet边界条件.结合完全匹配层,将新单元应用于三维电磁散射问题,并进行了数值计算.