Approximative derivation of the extinction efficiency for a two and threefold stratified cylinder

This paper discusses the applicability of the anomalous diffraction approximation to describe scattering at stratified, tilted and randomly oriented infinite cylinders. The results of the approximation are compared with the established exact scattering formulas based on Maxwell-Equations. We show that in many cases the simplified theory delivers good agreement in a broad size parameter range. Within the applicability limits discussed in the paper, the anomalous diffraction theory delivers a fast and useful tool for rapidly scanning a broad wavelength spectrum to investigate the effects of parameter variations in layered cylindrical media.