Lorenz-Mie theory for 2D scattering and resonance calculations

TL;DR

This tutorial explains the 2D generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (2D-GLMT), a numerical method for analyzing light scattering and resonances in arrays of cylindrical scatterers, including active media using SALT, with practical implementation guidance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive derivation and practical framework for implementing 2D-GLMT combined with SALT for scattering and resonance analysis in complex optical media.

Findings

Demonstrates the use of 2D-GLMT for designing polarization filters.

Shows computation of optical modes in photonic crystal cavities.

Illustrates resonance calculations in random lasers.

Abstract

This PhD tutorial is concerned with a description of the two-dimensional generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (2D-GLMT), a well-established numerical method used to compute the interaction of light with arrays of cylindrical scatterers. This theory is based on the method of separation of variables and the application of an addition theorem for cylindrical functions. The purpose of this tutorial is to assemble the practical tools necessary to implement the 2D-GLMT method for the computation of scattering by passive scatterers or of resonances in optically active media. The first part contains a derivation of the vector and scalar Helmholtz equations for 2D geometries, starting from Maxwell's equations. Optically active media are included in 2D-GLMT using a recent stationary formulation of the Maxwell-Bloch equations called steady-state ab initio laser theory (SALT), which introduces new classes of solutions useful for resonance computations. Following these preliminaries, a detailed description of 2D-GLMT is presented. The emphasis is placed on the derivation of beam-shape coefficients for scattering computations, as well as the computation of resonant modes using a combination of 2D-GLMT and SALT. The final section contains several numerical examples illustrating the full potential of 2D-GLMT for scattering and resonance computations. These examples, drawn from the literature, include the design of integrated polarization filters and the computation of optical modes of photonic crystal cavities and random lasers.