Scattering of electromagnetic waves from dielectric coated conducting spheres

Several series of rigorous numerical calculations of the backscatter cross section of a conducting sphere with a thin lossless dielectric coating were carried out. The ratio of the radius to wavelength was varied from about 0.02 to 10.0; the dielectric constant of the coating was taken to be 2.56, 4.0, or 6.0; and the thickness of the coating was 0.1 or 0.05 times the outer radius of the coated sphere. Curves of the results are presented which indicate that the backscatter cross section of a coated sphere may be increased by as much as a factor of ten over that of an uncoated sphere of the same size, and, due to interference effects, an even greater decrease may be obtained. Further, small changes (less than one per cent) in the thickness or dielectric constant of the coating, or in the wavelength, may bring about large changes in the cross section. The numerical results are also compared with some experimental measurements, and with predictions of a "creeping-wave" type of analysis carried out by Helstrom.