Calculation of light scattering from particles and structures on a surface by the coupled-dipole method

Light scattering from particles or structures on a surface is calculated by using a modification of the coupled-dipole method. The interaction matrix is modified for the presence of the surface by inclusion of the dipole reflection terms, calculated with the Sommerfeld integral formulation. The incident plane wave is replaced by the incident plus the surface reflected waves. In some cases the dipole reflections may be approximated by a Fresnel image dipole. Light scattering for structures up to a wavelength in size can be calculated in a reasonable amount of time.