Point-group symmetries in electromagnetic scattering

F. Michael Schulz, Knut Stamnes, J. J. Stamnes

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Abstract

A relation is developed between point-group symmetries of light-scattering particles and symmetry relations for the electromagnetic scattering solution in the T-matrix formulation. A systematic derivation of a representation of symmetry operations is presented in the vector space on which the T matrix operates. From this the set of symmetry relations of the T matrix is obtained for various point groups. As examples several symmetry groups relevant to modeling atmospheric particles are treated, such as the K group of spherical symmetry, the C∞ν group of axial symmetry, and the D∞h group of dihedral axial symmetry. The D∞h symmetry relations for the T matrix in spheroidal coordinates (denoted by script font) are also derived. Previously known symmetry relations of the T matrix can be verified, and new relations are found for DNh symmetry, i.e., for the important case of particles with dihedral symmetry and an N-fold axis of rotation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)853-865
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1999

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