Scattering by spherical particles. This is the simplest type of scattering, since two of the scattering coefficient must identically equal zero due to symmetry. The formal rigorous solution is usually attributed to Gustav Mie (1908). Although the solution to the sphere problem appears to been attained previously, Mie was the first to publish it. A discussion of the history of scattering from a sphere is given by Kerker (1969).
References
Born, M. and Wolf, E. "Diffraction by a Conducting Sphere; Theory of Mie." §13.5 in Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference, and Diffraction of Light, 7th ed. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, p. 633-644, 1999.
Goody, R. M. and Yung, Y. L. Atmospheric Radiation: Theoretical Basis, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 315-316, 1989.
Kerker, M. The Scattering of Light and Other Electromagnetic Radiation. New York: Academic Press, pp. 54-59, 1969.
van de Hulst, H. C. Light Scattering by Small Particles. New York: Dover, 1981.
