This is a relatively simple, and hence very standard problem.
Now, we have no desire to ``reinvent the sphere''14.1 but it is important that you understand where our results come
from. First of all, let us introduce dimensionless, scaled versions of
the relative permeability and permittivity (a step that Jackson
apparently performs in J10 but does not document or explain):
(14.14) | |||
(14.15) |
If you refer back to J4.4, equation J4.56 and the surrounding
text, you will see that the induced dipole moment in a dielectric sphere
in terms of the relative permittivity is:
(14.16) |
To recapitulate the derivation (useful since this is a common
question on qualifiers and the like) we note that the sphere has
azimuthal symmetry around the direction of
, so we can express the
scalar potential inside and outside the sphere as
(14.17) | |||
(14.18) |
We need to evaluate this. At infinity we know that the field should be (to
lowest order) undisturbed, so the potential must asymptotically go over to
(14.19) |
(14.20) |
(14.21) |
Since this is the surface of a sphere (!) we can project out each spherical
component if we wish and cause these equations to be satisfied term by term.
From the first (tangential) equation we just match itself:
(14.22) |
(14.23) | |||
(14.24) |
From the second (normal) equation we get
(14.25) | |||
(14.26) |
The second equation of each pair are incompatible and have only the trivial
(14.27) |
(14.28) | |||
(14.29) |
(14.30) | |||
(14.31) |
When we identify the second term of the external field with the dipole
potential and compare with the expansion of the dipole potential
(14.32) |
(14.33) |
There is no magnetic dipole moment, because and therefore
the sphere behaves like a ``dipole antenna''. Thus
and there
is no magnetic scattering of radiation from this system. This one
equation, therefore, (together with our original definitions of the
fields) is sufficient to determine the differential cross-section:
(14.34) |
However, the light incident on the sphere will generally be unpolarized. Then the question naturally arises of whether the various independent polarizations of the incident light beam will be scattered identically. Or, to put it another way, what is the angular distribution function of radiation with a definite polarization? To answer this, we need to consider a suitable decomposition of the possible polarization directions.
This decomposition is apparent from considering the following picture of the general geometry:
Let
define the plane of scattering. We have to fix
and
relative to this scattering plane and
average over the polarizations in the incident light,
and
(also fixed relative to this plane). We can always choose
the directions of polarization such that
is
perpendicular to the scattering plane and
are
in it, and perpendicular to the directions
and
respectively. The dot products are thus
(14.35) | |||
(14.36) |
We need the average of the squares of these quantities. This is essentially
averaging and over
.
Alternatively, we can meditate upon symmetry and conclude that the average is
just . Thus (for the polarization in the plane () and
perpendicular to the plane () of scattering, respectively) we have:
(14.37) | |||
(14.38) |
Unfortunately, everything thus far is expressed with respect to the plane of
scattering, which varies with the direction of the scattered light. If we
define the polarization of the scattered radiation to be
(14.39) |
Finally, we can add the two pieces of the differential cross-section
together:
(14.40) |
(14.41) |
At last, we can put it all together. Molecules in the atmosphere behave, far from resonance, like itty-bitty dielectric spheres to a remarkable approximation. Since blue light is scattered more strongly than red, light seen away from its direction of incidence (the sky and not the sun) is shifted in color from white to blue. When Mr. Sun is examined directly through a thick layer of atmosphere (at sunset) the blue is all scattered out and the remaining light looks red. Finally, light from directly overhead at sunup or sundown is polarized in a north-south direction; at noon the light from the horizon is polarized parallel to the horizon (and hence is filtered by vertical transmission axis polarized sunglasses. You should verify this at your next opportunity outdoors with a pair of polarized sunglasses, as this whole discussion is taught in elementary terms in second semester introductory physics courses.
Don't say I never taught you anything14.2.
The last remarks I would make concern the total cross-section. Note
that if we factor out a we get the ``area'' of the sphere
times a pure (dimensionless) number associated with the
relative size of the sphere radius and the wavelength and a second pure
number involving only the dielectric properties of the medium:
(14.42) |