Scattering from low-density dielectric bodies

It is shown that the coherent scattering integral provides a convenient and mathematically tractable method of solving scattering problems of large, low-density, dielectric bodies. In this method the solid dielectric body is replaced by an assembly of particles whose boundary coincides with the outside surface of the dielectric body. Considering the coherent scattering integral, and realizing that coherent scattering comes primarily from sudden particle density changes such as the boundaries of a particle system, it is shown that for low-density dielectric bodies of arbitrary shape the coherent scattering integral yields the physical optics cross section of the dielectric body. Backscattering echo areas for a cylinder, sphere, lens, and various truncated cones are derived and discussed.