Mie Scattering — Dielectric Sphere
Exact electromagnetic scattering from a sphere of arbitrary size
Mie theory gives the exact solution to Maxwell's equations for a sphere. The scattering efficiency Q_sca and extinction Q_ext are expanded in Legendre multipoles (Mie coefficients a_n, b_n). Small particles (x≪1) follow Rayleigh: Q_sca∝x⁴; large particles (x≫1) approach the geometric limit Q_ext→2. The polar diagram shows the differential scattering cross-section for perpendicular (blue) and parallel (orange) polarizations.