The scattering of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam by a diele
ctric sphere is described. Two methods are presented: a coherent mode
representation and a spherical harmonics expansion. In the case of a d
istant blackbody source, the coherent modes are plane waves and the sc
attered intensity :is obtained by a convolution of the classical Mie r
esults over the source surface. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig
hts reserved.