Light scattering resonances in small particles with electric and magnetic properties.

Lorenz-Mie resonances produced by small spheres are analyzed as a function of their size and optical properties (epsi > or < 0, mu > or < 0). New generalized (mu not equal to 1) approximate and compact expressions of the first four Lorenz-Mie coefficients (a1, b1, a2, and b2) are calculated. With these expressions and for small particles with various values of epsi and mu, the extinction cross section (Q(ext)) is calculated and analyzed, in particular for resonant conditions. The dependence on particle size of the extinction resonance, together with the resonance shape (FWHM), is also analyzed. In addition to the former analysis, a study of the scattering diagrams for some interesting values of epsi and mu is also presented.