Electromagnetic scattering by a fixed finite object embedded in an absorbing medium

This paper presents a general and systematic analysis of the problem of electromagnetic scattering by an arbitrary finite fixed object embedded in an absorbing, homogeneous, isotropic, and unbounded medium. The volume integral equation is used to derive generalized formulas of the far-field approximation. The latter serve to introduce direct optical observables such as the phase and extinction matrices. The differences between the generalized equations and their counterparts describing electromagnetic scattering by an object embedded in a non-absorbing medium are discussed. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.