Reflection symmetry of a sphere's internal field and its consequences on scattering: a microphysical approach

We examine the reflection symmetries of the electromagnetic wave inside of a uniform spherical particle and identify the consequences of the symmetries for the Stokes parameters describing the polarization state of the far-field scattered wave. The connection between the two waves is described from a microphysical perspective that illustrates the wavelet-superposition origin of the scattered wave. In contrast to more conventional approaches, this microphysical perspective yields new insight into the physical character of the scattering of a plane wave by a sphere. The results of simulations are presented, which graphically demonstrate the relation between the symmetries present in the internal wave and the polarization state of the scattered wave. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.