Multiple Electromagnetic Scattering from a Cluster of Spheres. I. Theory

Abstract
A method for calculating the electromagnetic scattering properties of a cluster of spheres of arbitrary radii and (possibly complex) refractive indexes is proposed. The approach takes proper account of multiple scattering effects and does not require any approximation except for the truncation of the multipolar expansions describing the scattered field. The convergence of the expansions is tested through the application to the simple but significant system of two spheres with varying interparticle separation.