Scattering of light by multiple dielectric cylinders: comparison of radiative transfer and Maxwell theory

We have compared radiative transfer theory with analytical solutions of the Maxwell equations for light scattering by multiple infinitely long parallel cylinders at perpendicular incidence. The calculated scattering cross sections for both methods show large differences, but the angle-dependent differential scattering cross-section results are very similar for small cylinder densities, except close to the forward direction. In contrast to recently published results, it is shown that the radiative transfer equation is a useful approximation for small cylinder concentrations. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America