Finite Difference Time Domain Computation of Light Scattering by Multiple Colloidal Particles

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 14; no. 13; pp. 3484 - 3492
• Main Authors: Palkar, Saurabh A, Ryde, Niels P, Schure, Mark R, Gupta, Neelam, Cole, James B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 23.06.1998
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Light scattering; Theoretical study; Non spherical particle; Particle shape; Algorithm; Colloid particle; Finite difference method
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la971057a

A finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm with nonstandard finite differences is used to compute light scattering by colloidal particles. The objective of this research is to simulate scattering for cases where multiparticle scattering is significant and where particle shape is arbitrary and not limited to regular geometries commonly illustrated in mathematical solutions such as the Mie theory. In this paper scattering characteristics computed using the FDTD method are compared with known analytical solutions for a number of cases for which a two-dimensional treatment is sufficient. These include scattering by a single infinite cylinder, a hollow cylinder, and two parallel cylinders. The numerical results were found to agree well with the analytical solutions. Results are also given for cases where multiparticle scattering is significant and analytical solutions are extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain.