The discrete dipole approximation: an overview and recent developments

TL;DR

This paper reviews the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) for light scattering, discussing its theoretical foundation, numerical implementation, recent advancements, and positioning among other simulation methods.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of DDA, including recent developments and future directions, emphasizing its theoretical and numerical aspects.

Findings

DDA is a versatile method for simulating light scattering by complex particles.

Recent developments have improved the numerical efficiency and accuracy of DDA.

The paper positions DDA within the landscape of light scattering simulation techniques.

Abstract

We present a review of the discrete dipole approximation (DDA), which is a general method to simulate light scattering by arbitrarily shaped particles. We put the method in historical context and discuss recent developments, taking the viewpoint of a general framework based on the integral equations for the electric field. We review both the theory of the DDA and its numerical aspects, the latter being of critical importance for any practical application of the method. Finally, the position of the DDA among other methods of light scattering simulation is shown and possible future developments are discussed.