Calculation of electromagnetic scattering by a large chiral sphere

Expressions of scattering coefficients for calculating scattering by large chiral spheres are derived by using logarithmic derivatives and ratios of Riccati-Bessel functions. The improved expressions can be easily applied to the case of an arbitrarily shaped beam incidence. A simplified expression of the scattered field in the far field is obtained for the case of x-polarized plane-wave incidence. To verify the correctness and accuracy of the theory and codes, our results are compared with those in literature and those calculated by Mie theory. Radar cross sections of a large chiral sphere are numerically studied. It is found that the rainbow phenomenon of a chiral sphere is very different from that of an isotropic sphere. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America