title: Finite-difference time-domain solution of light scattering by dielectric particles with a perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition.
abstract: A three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) program has been developed to provide a numerical solution for light scattering by nonspherical dielectric particles. The perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition (ABC) is used to truncate the computational domain. As a result of using the PML ABC, the present FDTD program requires much less computer memory and CPU time than those that use traditional truncation techniques. For spheres with particle-size parameters as large as 40, the extinction and absorption efficiencies from the present FDTD program match the Mie results closely, with differences of less than approximately 1%. The difference in the scattering phase function is typically smaller than approximately 5%. The FDTD program has also been checked by use of the exact solution for light scattering by a pair of spheres in contact. Finally, applications of the PML FDTD to hexagonal particles and to spheres aggregated into tetrahedral structures are presented.
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen