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Selected Works of James A. Lock
Article
Exterior Caustics Produced in Scattering of a Diagonally Incident Plane Wave by a Circular Cylinder: Semiclassical Scattering Theory Analysis
Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics Image Science and Vision
  • James A. Lock, Cleveland State University
  • Charles L. Adler
  • Edward A. Hovenac
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Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2000
Disciplines
Abstract

Rie use the semiclassical limit of electromagnetic wave scattering theory to determine the properties of the exterior caustics of a diagonally incident plane wave scattered by an infinitely long homogeneous dielectric circular cylinder in both the near zone and the far zone. The transmission caustic has an exterior/interior cusp transition as the tilt angle of the incident beam is increased, and each of the rainbow caustics has a far-zone rainbow/exterior cusp transition and an exterior/interior cusp transition as the incident beam tilt angle is increased. We experimentally observe and analyze both transitions of the first-order rainbow. We also compare the predictions of the semiclassical approximation with those of ray theory and exact electromagnetic wave scattering theory. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-3232(00)01010-3]. OCIS codes: 080.1510, 290.4020.

DOI
10.1364/JOSAA.17.001846
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
This paper was published in Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics Image Science and Vision and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-17-10-1846. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
Citation Information
Lock, James A., Charles L. Adler, and Edward A. Hovenac. "Exterior Caustics Produced in Scattering of a Diagonally Incident Plane Wave by a Circular Cylinder: Semiclassical Scattering Theory Analysis." Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics Image Science and Vision 17 (2000): 1846-1856.