Field, Force, Energy and Momentum in Classical Electrodynamics (Revised Edition)

Author(s): Masud Mansuripur

DOI: 10.2174/9781681085562117010016

The Optical Theorem

Pp: 323-329 (7)

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  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Field, Force, Energy and Momentum in Classical Electrodynamics (Revised Edition)

The Optical Theorem

Author(s): Masud Mansuripur

Pp: 323-329 (7)

DOI: 10.2174/9781681085562117010016

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

We present a general proof of the optical theorem (also known as the optical crosssection theorem) that reveals the intimate connection between the forward scattering amplitude and the absorption-plus-scattering of the incident wave within the scatterer. The oscillating electric charges and currents as well as the electric and magnetic dipoles of the scatterer, driven by an incident plane-wave, extract energy from the incident beam at a certain rate. The same oscillators radiate electromagnetic energy into the far field, thus giving rise to well-defined scattering amplitudes along various directions. The essence of the proof presented here is that the extinction cross-section of an object can be related to its forward scattering amplitude using the induced oscillations within the object but without an actual knowledge of the mathematical form assumed by these oscillations.

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