INTEGRAL LOCALIZED APPROXIMATION IN GENERALIZED LORENZ-MIE THEORY

The generalized Lorenz-Mie theory deals with the interaction between s pheres and arbitrarily shaped illuminating beams. An efficient use of the theory requires efficient evaluation of the so-called beam-shape c oefficients involved in the description of the illuminating beam. A le ss time-consuming method of evaluation relies on the localized approxi mation. However, it lacks flexibility when the description of the illu minating beam is modified. We present a new version of this method, ca lled the integral localized approximation, that exhibits the desired p roperty of flexibility. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.