Investigation of Domains of Validity of Approximation Methods in Light Scattering from Spherical Obstacles

Abstract

We point out the utility of the eikonal approximation in the study of the scattering of light by transparent spheres. Domains of validity of the eikonal approximation, the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye approximation and the anomalous diffraction approximation have been clearly identified by numerical calculations of the scattering function for various values of the refractive indices and size parameters of the sphere.