title: Axisymmetric scattering of scalar waves by spheroids.
abstract: A phase shift formulation of scattering by oblate and prolate spheroids is presented, in parallel with the partial-wave theory of scattering by spherical obstacles. The crucial step is application of a finite Legendre transform to the Helmholtz equation in spheroidal coordinates. In the long-wavelength limit the spheroidal analog of the spherical scattering length immediately gives the cross section. Analytical results are readily obtained for scattering of Schrödinger particle waves by impenetrable spheroids, and for scattering of sound waves by acoustically soft spheroidal objects. The method is restricted to scattering by spheroids whose symmetry axis is coincident with the direction of the incident plane wave.
authors.affiliation: MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekner
authors.forename: Rufus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyack
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013016:Sound; D013997:Time Factors