Classical decay rates for molecules in the presence of a spherical surface: A complete treatment

A comprehensive treatment of the classical decay rates for a molecule in the vicinity of a spherical surface is presented through the application of the work of van der Pol and Bremmer and that of Fock. This theory takes full advantage of the Hertz vector formalism, which is mathematically simpler than the widely-adapted Lorenz-Mie approach which uses the complicated vector harmonic expansions. Results are obtained for both radiative and nonradiative transfer when the molecule is located outside or inside the surface. Numerical results are given for the cases of a surface, cavity and “aerosol”, and comparison with other works is made.