Evaluation of the scattering matrix of an arbitrary particle using the coupled dipole approximation

Abstract

The coupled dipole approximation is applied to the calculation of the scattering matrix of an arbitrary particle. Both isotropic and anisotropic dipoles are used in the calculations. The forms of the matrices obtained for several types of scatterers are found to be in exact agreement with those predicted by symmetry. The method is tested quantitatively by comparison with Mie predictions for solid and coated spheres and good agreement is observed. This comparison is also used to establish appropriate magnitudes for anisotropic dipolar polarizabilities.