Long-wavelength limit of scattering from a lossy dielectric sphere

Abstract
It is shown that the cross section for scattering in the long-wavelength limit from a lossy dielectric sphere varies as λ-2 and not as λ-1, as is suggested in standard treatments of the subject. The λ-1 variation is in conflict with the analytic properties of the scattering amplitudes as a function of k = 2πλ-1, and this conflict is resolved when the wavelength dependence of the dielectric constant is taken into account.