Isotropic scattering by penetrable cylinders

Isotropic scattering is considered for infinite cylinders thin in the sense that ka 1, although |k′a| and cross-sectional shape can be arbitrary within limits (k and k′ are, respectively, free-space and interior propagation constants, and a is a characteristic dimension of the cylinder). For circular cylinders, scattering width is found to saturate at its perfectly conducting value, and absorption width is found to peak, when skin depth becomes comparable with cylinder diameter. For a variety of cylinders with and without edges, both scattering and absorption widths are then found to be effectively identical to those of the circular cylinder with equal cross-sectional area. A new analytical formula is obtained for high but not infinite conductivity, and the connection with scattering cross sections of corresponding finite cylinders is discussed. © 2000 Optical Society of America.