Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review
The classical optical theorem states that for a wave propagating in a lossless medium and incident on a finite scatterer, the extinction cross section is proportional to the real part of the scattering amplitude in the forward direction. When developing a light scattering theory known as the general...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2023.1271555/full |
| _version_ | 1797671401759440896 |
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| author | Gérard Gouesbet Philip L. Marston |
| author_facet | Gérard Gouesbet Philip L. Marston |
| author_sort | Gérard Gouesbet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The classical optical theorem states that for a wave propagating in a lossless medium and incident on a finite scatterer, the extinction cross section is proportional to the real part of the scattering amplitude in the forward direction. When developing a light scattering theory known as the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory, it has been a surprise to observe that in 1982, the optical theorem failed when the scatterer was illuminated by an arbitrary-shaped beam. The extremely simple reason for that failure has been understood only in 2014 and published in 2016. This represents a more than three-decade-long story, which is called a “wow” story for reasons that will be mentioned in this paper. The opportunity of this story which pertains to both the history and philosophy of sciences is considered to provide a review of the optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:13:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79ee26a017f143d88696a714e922c366 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:13:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-79ee26a017f143d88696a714e922c3662023-09-29T05:27:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2023-09-011110.3389/fphy.2023.12715551271555Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a reviewGérard Gouesbet0Philip L. Marston1CORIA-UMR 6614- Normandie Université, CNRS-Université et INSA de Rouen, Campus Universitaire du Madrillet, Saint-Etienne-du Rouvray, FranceDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United StatesThe classical optical theorem states that for a wave propagating in a lossless medium and incident on a finite scatterer, the extinction cross section is proportional to the real part of the scattering amplitude in the forward direction. When developing a light scattering theory known as the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory, it has been a surprise to observe that in 1982, the optical theorem failed when the scatterer was illuminated by an arbitrary-shaped beam. The extremely simple reason for that failure has been understood only in 2014 and published in 2016. This represents a more than three-decade-long story, which is called a “wow” story for reasons that will be mentioned in this paper. The opportunity of this story which pertains to both the history and philosophy of sciences is considered to provide a review of the optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2023.1271555/fulloptical theoremgeneralized Lorenz–Mie theoryelectromagnetismacoustical wavesquantum mechanics |
| spellingShingle | Gérard Gouesbet Philip L. Marston Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review Frontiers in Physics optical theorem generalized Lorenz–Mie theory electromagnetism acoustical waves quantum mechanics |
| title | Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review |
| title_full | Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review |
| title_fullStr | Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review |
| title_short | Failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary-shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism, acoustics, and quantum mechanics: motivation and a review |
| title_sort | failures of the classical optical theorem under arbitrary shaped beam incidence in electromagnetism acoustics and quantum mechanics motivation and a review |
| topic | optical theorem generalized Lorenz–Mie theory electromagnetism acoustical waves quantum mechanics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2023.1271555/full |
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