Complex resonances of conducting spheres with lossy coatings

The electromagnetic scattering amplitude for metal objects coated with a lossless dielectric exhibits a large number of resonances versus real frequency. These resonances are a function of the object shape and size, coating thickness, and coating electrical properties. Previously, it was shown that for coated spheres and nonspherical bare objects, these resonances can be understood in terms of phase matched circumnavigating surface waves and the objects' complex eigenfrequencies. The effect of dielectric loss in the coating on the complex eigenfrequencies and phase velocities of these surface waves is presented for a metal sphere coated with a uniform homogeneous dielectric coating. It is seen that the positions of the complex resonance frequencies move away from the real frequency axis under the influence of dielectric loss in the coating. The effect of this is shown to correspond to the changes in the backscatter spectrum versus real frequency as computed using a Mie series expansion. The significant difference between the lossless and lossy dielectric-coated sphere cases is seen to be due to a modification of the phase velocities of surface waves, particularly the whispering gallery types, and the increased attenuation of the surface wave modes